H. Rept. 104-70 - MAKING EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND MAKING RESCISSIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1995, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES104th Congress (1995-1996)

Reports for H.R.1158

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104th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 104-70
_______________________________________________________________________
MAKING EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER
ASSISTANCE AND MAKING RESCISSIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER
30, 1995, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
_______
March 8, 1995.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
Mr. Livingston, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
together with
DISSENTING VIEWS, ADDITIONAL VIEWS, AND ADDITIONAL DISSENTING VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 1158]
The Committee on Appropriations submits the following
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making emergency
supplemental appropriations for additional disaster assistance
and making rescissions for the fiscal year ending September 30,
1995, and for other purposes.
COMMITTEE ACTIONS
The Committee has completed action on rescissions, included
in four separate bills, that total over $20 billion. Some of
the savings that will occur as a result of these rescissions
have been used to offset supplemental appropriations requests
for the Department of Defense, FEMA Disaster Assistance, aid to
Jordan, payment to the Coast Guard for refugee support in the
Caribbean, and several other necessary supplementals for fiscal
year 1995. The Disaster Assistance and the Coast Guard
emergency supplementals are included in this bill.
The rescissions have been made across the Government. They
are our first step in the direction of downsizing the
Government. By taking this action in fiscal year 1995, the
Committee is taking the opportunity to accelerate savings
proposed in several legislative actions already taken or under
way in the House, proposed by the National Performance Review
activity of the Vice President and proposed in the President's
budget request for fiscal year 1996. Taking these actions now
is putting us on a course to provide better government at lower
cost to better meet the needs of all the people of the United
States and the beneficiaries of the programs served. Not only
will making these rescissions enable us to offset the
supplementals for those people hurt by last year's natural
disasters, but it also means we are taking steps necessary to
insure the Nation's financial future that affects our children
and grandchildren. Saving money now by eliminating unnecessary
and duplicative programs will help insure that our economy will
remain strong for our children's tomorrow and that our country
will continue to move from strength today to a stronger 21st
century. By acting in this fashion we will help produce a
government which preserves and protects but does not
unnecessarily intrude, a government which is a resource, not a
burden. These reductions are not cause for celebration but a
sober acknowledgment that our task is only beginning. We intend
to continue in this direction in the future.
FUNDS PROPOSED FOR RESCISSION SHOULD NOT BE OBLIGATED
The Committee expects the Office of Management and Budget
to take actions that would insure funds proposed for rescission
in these bills are not obligated in an effort to avoid making
these reductions. At the time the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget appeared before the Committee on February
14, the Director was given an example where the Office of the
General Counsel of the Office of Management and Budget advised
the General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture that the
Department did have the authority to obligate funds being
considered for rescission. The General Counsel of the
Department, previous to that point, had held they did not have
authority to obligate the funds. The Director indicated that
she was not aware of the problem. The Committee has become
aware of other such examples of obligating funds, some of which
have been available for years, in an effort to preclude their
rescission. When the President initiates a rescission, he has
impoundment authority available to insure that if Congress
agrees with those proposals, the funds will be available when
the rescission is signed into law. Impoundment is not available
when Congress initiates a rescission proposal. The Committee
expects and directs, therefore, full cooperation with this
congressional initiative aimed at providing a balanced budget
and a sound financial future for the Nation. The Committee
would like to point out that these rescissions are just the
first step of a long uncomfortable, but necessary journey,
needed to continue the effort to bring spending within revenue.
Bill Summary
The bill recommended by the Committee includes
$5,388,197,000 in supplemental appropriations and
$17,197,773,839 in rescissions and reductions in limitations on
obligations.
TITLE I
EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
CHAPTER I
DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Federal Emergency Management Agency
disaster relief
The Committee is recommending an emergency supplemental
request of $5,360,000,000 for disaster relief, a reduction of
$1,340,000,000 from the President's request. The recommended
supplemental funds will allow disaster relief activities
associated with the Northridge earthquake, several FY1995
declared disasters, disaster efforts declared in prior years in
40 States, and estimated disaster requirements for the
remainder of FY1995. The Committee's recommendation is expected
to be sufficient to meet ongoing and FY1995 anticipated
disaster relief efforts beyond fiscal year 1996. As FEMA
develops and presents to the Committee additional specific
information on requirements for such declared disasters, the
Committee will endeavor to respond in an expeditious manner.
CHAPTER II
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES
COAST GUARD
Operating Expenses
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $28,197,000
for supplemental operating expenses of the U.S. Coast Guard, to
finance their emergency readiness capability as a consequence
of last year's Caribbean interdiction operations (Operations
Able Manner, Able Vigil, Restore Democracy, and Support
Democracy). The recommendation reduces by $100,000 the
administration's proposal of $28,297,000. These expenses are
designated in the bill as an emergency requirement, as
requested, and are made available until the end of fiscal year
1995, consistent with similar funding made available for the
other military services in the Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Bill for the Department of Defense.
DENIED EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION REQUESTS
DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED
AGENCIES
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
International Organizations and Conferences
contributions for international peacekeeping activities
The Committee does not approve the request for $672,000,000
in additional funds for estimated fiscal year 1995 U.S.
assessments for the cost of United Nations peacekeeping
missions. This was requested as an emergency supplemental. The
test for an emergency, under the definition developed by the
Office of Management and Budget, is that the need for the
supplemental funding is, among other things, sudden and
unforeseen.
The need for this supplemental is neither sudden nor
unforeseen. Only $222,212,000 of the $533,304,000 requested by
the Administration under this account in fiscal year 1995 were
for 1995 assessments, at a time when annual assessments have
been surpassing $1,000,000,000, leaving no doubt that a
supplemental would be required later.
The current way the Administration seeks funding for
peacekeeping missions is unworkable. On the one hand, the
Appropriations Committee is operating under strict spending
ceilings. On the other, the Administration is signing on to
peacekeeping missions without sufficient cognizance of the cost
or where the money will come from to pay for these missions. It
simply sends the bills up to Congress for payment, when there
aren't any funds left to spend, without a suggestion as to
where to find the money to pay those bills.
Peacekeeping, like any other program, must be based on the
availability of funds to pay for the program. A method must be
developed to regularize the funding of this program within the
normal appropriations process.
TITLE II
RESCISSIONS
CHAPTER I
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
The Committee recommends a rescission of $31,000 from the
Office of the Secretary. The Secretary's position at of the
Department of Agriculture has been vacant since January 1,
1995, therefore there are funds in this account that will not
be used in this fiscal year. The Committee also proposes bill
language that would limit the use of the Secretary's emergency
transfer authority without prior notification to the Committees
on Appropriations. Recently this authority has been used in
cases to replenish accounts that were short of funds. The
Committee does not believe this is an appropriate designation
for an emergency.
Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization
The Committee recommends a rescission of $3,000,000 for
Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization. The
program was established in fiscal year 1992 to take research
that has already occurred to the next step for
commercialization. USDA enters into a partnership with a
developer or researcher in order to get the product to the
market. In return, a portion of the profits would be returned
to the program to make more grants, thereby setting up a
revolving fund. The funds appropriated to date are seed money
allocated for start-up expenses. To date, the program has
received Federal funds totaling $27,250,000. In addition to the
$6,500,000 appropriated in fiscal year 1995, $2,500,000 was
carried over from prior year appropriations.
Agricultural Research Service
buildings and facilities
The Committee recommends a rescission of $12,678,000 in the
Agricultural Research Service's buildings and facilities
program. These funds were appropriated for the construction of
a swine research center. Additional construction cost
requirements for this facility are about $13,000,000. The
Agricultural Research Service currently conducts swine research
in at least 13 different Federal facilities at a cost of over
$26,000,000. Many of these programs and facilities are ongoing
projects. The agency has no plans to abolish or move existing
research and researchers to the proposed swine center if it is
constructed. The Department of Agriculture has estimated this
facility would cost about $10 million annually to operate.
Existing legislation directs the downsizing of the Federal
workforce; therefore, providing additional researchers for this
facility would cause adverse effects in research elsewhere.
Critical swine research could be carried out at an existing ARS
facility at considerable less cost than providing an additional
facility at a time when USDA is closing facilities and reducing
staff.
Cooperative State Research Service
special research grants
The Committee recommends a rescission of $524,000 for
special research grants. For several years the Committee has
been providing funds for the Oregon/Massachusetts/Pennsylvania
Biotechnology special research grant. The recommended
rescission is the amount that was provided in the fiscal year
1995 appropriations bill for this project.
federal administration
The Committee recommends a total rescission of $527,000
from this account. Included in this amount is:
(1) $93,000 for the National Potato Trade and Tariff
Association. The Committee recommends that no Federal
funds be provided for this project.
(2) $434,000 for the American Indian Initiative of
the Arid Lands Development Fund. This project is to
conduct research on arid lands for irrigation purposes
with the technology to be transferred to the Southwest.
The Committee believes that this technology is already
available in the Southwest.
The bill also makes a technical correction to Public Law
103-330, the fiscal year 1995 Appropriations Act. The
conference agreement provided $9,207,000 for the 1890 capacity
building grants program. Language is included to conform the
bill language to the conference agreement.
buildings and facilities
The Committee recommends a rescission of $20,994,000 in the
Cooperative State Research Service's buildings and facilities
program. This program is for construction of buildings at
universities performing research in support of agriculture.
There is a current backlog of $400 million necessary to
complete facilities already in the pipeline. The fiscal year
1995 bill provides for 15 new feasibility studies. The
Committee recommends rescinding all funds not yet obligated and
stopping all new feasibility studies. This will give the
Committee a chance to reevaluate the entire building program
before more commitments are established. The projects to be
rescinded are as follows:
Cooperative State Research Service
FY 1995 Proposal
Buildings and Facilities (In dollars)
Alabama:
Poultry science facility, Auburn University \1\..... 522,000
Arkansas:
Carnall Hall, Alternative Pest Control Center....... 946,000
Connecticut:
Chemistry Building, Connecticut Agricultural
Experiment Station................................ (\1\)
Florida:
Aquatic Research Facility, University of Florida.... (\1\)
Hawaii:
Center for Applied Aquaculture...................... 1,495,000
Idaho:
Biotechnology Facility.............................. 1,761,000
Illinois:
Science facility, DePaul University \1\............. 435,000
Louisiana:
Southeast Research Station, Franklinton............. (\1\)
Maine:
Food Science Facility............................... (\1\)
Mississippi:
National Food Service Management Institute.......... (\1\)
Nevada:
Great Basin Environmental Research Lab, University
of Nevada......................................... (\1\)
New Jersey:
Plant Bioscience Facility, Rutgers University....... 3,785,000
New York:
New York Botanical Garden........................... 3,785,000
North Dakota:
Institute for Agriculture and Rural Health Research
Development, Minot State University............... 280,000
Oklahoma:
Grain Storage Research and Extension Center,
Oklahoma State University......................... (\1\)
Oregon:
Forest Ecosystem Research Lab, Oregon State
University........................................ (\1\)
Rhode Island:
Building consolidation, University of Rhode Island
\2\............................................... 6,242,000
South Dakota:
Animal Resource Wing, South Dakota State University. (\1\)
Tennessee:
Horse Science and Teaching Center, Middle Tennessee
State University.................................. (\1\)
Texas:
Biocontainment facility, Texas A & M................ (\1\)
Vermont:
Rural Community Interactive Learning Center,
University of Vermont............................. (\1\)
Washington:
Wheat research facility, Washington State University
\1\............................................... 426,000
Wyoming:
Environmental Simulation Facility, University of
Wyoming........................................... 1,182,000
Miscellaneous:
Fund for reports.................................... 135,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total, buildings and facilities................... 20,994,000
\1\ Report requested.
\2\ Includes FY 1993 and FY 1994 enacted.
Rural Development Administration and Farmers Home Administration
rural housing insurance fund program account
The Committee recommends rescinding the $115,500,000
provided for the subsidy cost of the section 515 rural rental
housing program. This program is not authorized.
local technical assistance and planning grants
The Committee recommends a rescission of $1,750,000 for the
local technical assistance and planning grants program. This
program is funded for the first time in fiscal year 1995. The
Department of Agriculture has not yet issued rules and
regulations for this program and no funds have been used to
date. At a time when the Committee is looking at downsizing
government, it believes terminating this program before it gets
started makes fiscal sense.
alcohol fuels credit guarantee program account
The Committee recommends a rescission of $9,000,000 for the
alcohol fuels credit guarantee program account. This account
was established in fiscal year 1993 and to date no funds have
been used. This rescission will terminate the program.
Rural Electrification Administration
rural electrification and telephone loans program account
The Committee recommends a rescission of $3,000,000 for the
rural electrification and telephone loans program account for
five percent telephone loans. This program was restructured as
part of the REA Reorganization Act of 1993. Rules and
regulations have not yet been published and the funds provided
for the cost of the five percent loans program have not been
used to date. It is anticipated that, because of the strict
requirements to qualify for such loans, demand for the funds
will be much less than anticipated.
Food and Nutrition Service
food stamp program
The President's budget proposed to rescind $2,900,000 from
the food stamp block grant to Puerto Rico. These funds are used
by the Commonwealth as part of a tick eradication program. The
Commonwealth estimates that losses to the cattle industry would
amount to $34,000,000 per year without this program. The food
stamp program costs and funds used by Puerto Rico for this
program are mandatory. The Committee did not include this
proposal.
special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children
(wic)
The Committee recommends rescinding $25,000,000 of the
estimated $125,000,000 in unspent recovery funds of the WIC
program. The Committee supports the WIC program and considers
it to be a high priority for funding consideration. This is
evident in the fact that over the past few years, as
discretionary dollars have decreased, the WIC program has
received by far the largest increase in the bill. Since fiscal
year 1990, annual increases to the program have ranged between
$200 million to $350 million. The Committee has also been
concerned with the increase in the unspent recovery balance
which, since fiscal year 1990, has increased from $28 million
to $125 million. Testimony given before the Committee stated a
number of reasons why this has occurred including the need for
improved infrastructure, staffing freezes at the state and
local levels, and inadequacies in the funding formula. In light
of the significant recovery of unspent funds the Committee
recommends the rescission. The Committee notes that this
rescission will not take anyone currently participating in the
program out of the program. The program will continue to expand
by over 400,000 new participants in FY 1995.
CHAPTER II
DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED
AGENCIES
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
General Administration
working capital fund
The Committee recommends a rescission of $1,500,000 of
unobligated balances available in the Working Capital Fund. The
Administration proposed to transfer these balances to support
the establishment of a new National Bankruptcy Review
Commission. The Committee does not support the transfer of
these balances to establish the Commission, but rescinds the
funds because they are not required to support activities of
the Department of Justice.
Immigration and Naturalization Service
salaries and expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $1,000,000 from
amounts provided for fiscal year 1995 for the Immigration and
Naturalization Service (INS). The Committee was informed
through a formal briefing on January 4, 1995 by the INS on its
planned allocation of resources for 1995, that INS intends to
establish a cooperative research program of up to $2,000,000 to
support research and evaluation activities related to
immigration to be conducted by universities and private
institutions. In its 1995 budget, INS did not request resources
for the establishment of a research program and no such program
was approved by Congress in its appropriation of resources for
fiscal year 1995.
The Committee understands that evaluation of activities is
warranted especially in light of significant increases provided
to INS in fiscal years 1994 and 1995, and the Committee expects
that any amounts required for evaluation activities be
requested through a reprogramming notification so that the
impact on other INS program activities can be assessed. The
Committee is not likely to approve a new university research
grant program, at a time when resources are needed to take
action to reduce illegal immigration.
Office of Justice Programs
drug courts
The Committee recommends a rescission of $27,750,000
provided for Drug Courts, the remaining unobligated balance in
the program from funds appropriated under Title VIII, Violent
Crime Control Appropriations Act, 1995 of P.L. 103-317.
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 667, Violent
Criminal Incarceration Act on February 10, 1995. H.R. 667
amends Title V of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement
Act of 1994 and in doing so repeals the Drug Courts program.
This rescission simply conforms the appropriation to the
most recent House action.
ounce of prevention council
The Committee recommends supplemental language requested by
the Administration which allows funds appropriated for grants
by the Ounce of Prevention Council in Public Law 103-317, to
also be available for administrative expenses of the Council.
The language also allows the Council to accept, hold,
administer and use gifts, both real and personal, for the
purpose of facilitating its work.
RELATED AGENCY
National Bankruptcy Review Commission
The Committee does not approve the proposed supplemental
transfer of $1,500,000 in balances from the Department of
Justice, Working Capital Fund to establish a new National
Bankruptcy Review Commission. The Commission was authorized in
the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994. The proposed resources would
fund the Commission for a three year period. The need for a new
Commission has not been demonstrated.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
industrial technology services
The Committee recommends a rescission totaling $27,100,000
from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Industrial Technology Services appropriations account. Of this
amount, the Committee intends that $26,500,000 be taken from
the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) and
$600,000 be taken from the Quality Program.
The NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program funds
manufacturing assistance centers nationwide, although some of
these centers were initially funded under the Technology
Reinvestment Program of the Department of Defense. The intent
of the Administration is that the Commerce Department will
eventually fund all manufacturing assistance centers. Funds
initially provided by the Commerce-Justice Subcommittee for
this program in fiscal year 1995--$90,600,000--included a
$29,535,000 increase above the President's request (which was
double the fiscal year 1994 level of $30,235,000). The
reduction proposed in this bill will still allow for an
increase of $3,035,000 above the amounts originally requested
for this program in fiscal year 1995, and an increase of
$33,865,000 above the fiscal year 1994 level. The reduction of
25 percent of the NIST MEP funds will slow the growth of the
program to a more manageable level and allow the Committee to
reevaluate its ability to continue to fund these centers in
fiscal year 1996 and beyond.
The reduction of $600,000 from the Quality Program
eliminates the increase provided for this program in fiscal
year 1995 for expansion of the awards program into the fields
of health care and education. The Committee questions the
Commerce Department's expertise in these areas. The Committee
does not intend for this reduction to impact the base Baldridge
award program.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
operations, research, and facilities
The Committee recommends reductions totaling $37,000,000
from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Operations, Research, and Facilities appropriation account. The
Committee intends that this reduction be applied as follows:
--A reduction of $5,000,000 from the Coastal Ocean
Science Program, originally funded at $11,000,000 for
fiscal year 1995. This discretionary program supports a
staff of more than 50 people and was designed to be a
cross-cutting effort within NOAA to address issues
relating to coastal ocean science. Since the 1993 NOAA
strategic plan implemented a cross-cutting strategy for
all NOAA programs, this bureaucracy and the funding
program have become redundant. The reduction leaves $6
million for the base program for fiscal year 1995; the
Committee will consider further reductions in the
context of the fiscal year 1996 budget. The Committee
expects NOAA to provide a report on its plan for
applying this reduction to the base Coastal Ocean
Science program by March 31, 1995.
--A reduction of $18,000,000 for the National
Undersea Research Program (NURP). This program, which
was not requested by the Administration in either
fiscal year 1995 or fiscal year 1996, supports a
headquarters research activity and an external network
of five regional Undersea Research Centers. The NOAA
Administrator stated in testimony before the Committee
last year that NURP was a lower priority than other
NOAA program increases requested for fiscal year 1995;
and therefore, the Committee proposes to eliminate this
program as requested in the fiscal year 1996 budget.
--An elimination of the full amount of $7,000,000
provided for the Global Learning and Observations to
Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program, a new program
proposed in fiscal year 1995. This program was intended
to give schoolchildren in various countries equipment
to allow them to collect environmental data and the
means to transmit that data back to scientists in the
United States. The intent of the program was that the
students' data would be used to contribute to climate
and environmental models. Questions of quality control
and consistency of the data have never been adequately
addressed.
--A reduction of $7,000,000 from the NOAA Climate and
Global Change program. This reduction will return the
NOAA Climate and Global Change program to the fiscal
year 1994 level and allow the Committee to evaluate the
long-term goals of this program, including the funding
of the International Research Institute for Seasonal to
Interannual Climate Prediction, in the context of the
fiscal year 1996 budget request.
The Committee expects that any funds already obligated
against these subactivities will be absorbed out of the base
NOAA funding.
Technology Administration
under secretary for technology/office of technology policy
salaries and expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $3,300,000 from
the salaries and expenses of the Commerce Department's
Technology Administration. This account was funded at
$10,000,000 in fiscal year 1995, an increase of $4,300,000
above the amount provided for fiscal year 1994. This account
was initially funded at $3,900,000 in 1990--the proposed
rescission will still allow for a 72 percent increase in the
Department's technology policy office over five years. The
Committee feels that an expanded bureaucracy layered on top of
the NIST technology programs leads to redundancies, and
proposes to scale the office back.
National Technical Information Service
ntis revolving fund
The Committee recommends a rescission of $4,000,000 from
the NTIS Revolving Fund. This rescission represents one-half of
the funds provided in fiscal year 1995. The funds were provided
as a one-time capitalization of the Commerce Department's
information dissemination programs. The Committee feels that
most of these modernization costs can be absorbed through fees
paid by users of this technical information.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
information infrastructure grants
The Committee recommends a reduction of $30,000,000 from
amounts provided for the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration's (NTIA's) Information
Infrastructure Grant program. This program was funded at
$26,000,000 in its first year of existence (fiscal year 1994);
$64,000,000 was originally provided in fiscal year 1995. The
Committee's understanding of this program, which has never been
authorized, was that the priority for grant awards was to fund
applications leading to increased telecommunications access in
areas where such service is not readily available and, absent
Federal funding, service would probably not exist.
Many of the projects funded in the initial round of grant
awards (made after the fiscal year 1995 funding levels were
set) did not correspond with the Committee's understanding of
the program. The Committee has proposed this reduction to slow
the rate of growth in this program (while allowing for a
$4,000,000 increase over fiscal year 1994) and allow for a more
thorough evaluation of the program's goals as well as dialogue
with the Administration and the appropriate authorizing
committees on the continuation of this program.
Economic Development Administration
economic development assistance programs
The Committee recommends a rescission totaling $45,084,000
from prior year funding under the Economic Development
Administration (EDA). This amount includes amounts originally
appropriated in fiscal year 1992 as an emergency related to
Hurricane Andrew and other disasters, and from funds
appropriated in fiscal year 1993 as an emergency supplemental
related to the Midwest floods. In both cases, emergency funding
for EDA programs had not been requested by the Administration.
The Committee believes that these funds have been available for
an appropriate length of time to address the effect of any
economic dislocation resulting from these disasters, and that
remaining balances from these supplementals should be returned
to the U.S. Treasury.
The Committee has been aware of criticisms of some of the
grants awarded with emergency funding following the Hurricane
Andrew supplemental. Some of the projects funded were items
which had been turned down for funding under the standard EDA
criteria.
Balances totaling $9,548,000 related to Hurricane Andrew
supplemental and $28,036,000 for the Midwest Flood supplemental
are rescinded in this bill.
The Committee's recommendation also includes a rescission
of $7,500,000 originally provided in fiscal year 1987 as an
earmark for the Fort Worth Stockyards Project. These funds
remain undisbursed eight years later.
THE JUDICIARY
Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services
defender services
The Committee recommends a rescission of $1,100,000 from
the $250,000,000 provided for Defender Services in the fiscal
year 1995 appropriations bill. That bill contained a
limitation, prohibiting the expenditure of more than
$19,800,000 on Death Penalty Resource Centers. On December 19,
1994, the Administrative Office of the Courts submitted a
reprogramming request, asking to spend $1,100,000 in excess of
this limitation to establish a new Center. Since these funds
have been reserved for a purpose for which they cannot be
spent, the Committee has recommended that they be rescinded.
RELATED AGENCIES
Small Business Administration
salaries and expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $15,000,000 from
the $258,175,000 appropriated in fiscal year 1995 for salaries
and expenses of the Small Business Administration, as requested
by the Administration. This rescission eliminates the funding
for grants to states to plant trees.
Legal Services Corporation
payment to the legal services corporation
The Committee recommends a rescission of $5,849,000 from
amounts provided for fiscal years 1994 and 1995 for the Legal
Services Corporation. The amount includes $1,195,000 of
carryover funds and a reduction of non-core programs to fiscal
year 1994 levels. Non-core programs include law school clinics,
supplemental field programs, regional training centers,
national support, State support, the Clearinghouse, computer
assisted legal research regional centers, client initiatives
and management and administration. Within management and
administration, the Committee expects that to the extent
possible no activity should be reduced below its 1994 level.
Core programs that provide legal services; such as basic field
programs, remain at close to $10,000,000 above fiscal year 1994
levels. The Committee intends that the portion of carryover
funds that are recommended for rescission be reduced first from
non-core programs.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
RELATED AGENCY
Board for International Broadcasting
israel relay station
The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,000,000 from
unobligated funds available for the Israel Relay Station. The
Committee has previously rescinded the funding for this
canceled project. However, the Appendix to the fiscal year 1996
Budget proposed by the President indicates an unobligated
balance is still available under this account, from which this
rescission is taken.
CHAPTER III
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE--CIVIL
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Corps of Engineers--Civil
general investigations
The Committee recommends a rescission of $10,000,000 to be
derived from currently available unobligated balances.
Recently, the Corps of Engineers has done a poor job of
executing the program that is presented to Congress. As a
result, it has accumulated significant unobligated balances of
funds. The Corps has recognized this problem and in the fiscal
year 1996 budget request has proposed the use of a portion of
the accumulated unobligated balances to help finance the fiscal
year 1996 program. The Committee believes, however, that the
Corps will still carry over excess unobligated balances into
fiscal year 1996 and that these funds can be rescinded without
seriously impacting ongoing work or the fiscal year 1996
program.
construction, general
The Committee recommends a rescission of $40,000,000 to be
derived from currently available unobligated balances.
Recently, the Corps of Engineers has done a poor job of
executing the program that is presented to Congress. As a
result, it has accumulated significant unobligated balances of
funds. The Corps has recognized this problem and in the fiscal
year 1996 budget request has proposed the use of a significant
portion of the accumulated unobligated balances to help finance
the fiscal year 1996 program. The Committee believes, however,
that the Corps will still carry over excess unobligated
balances into fiscal year 1996 and that these funds can be
rescinded without seriously impacting ongoing work or the
fiscal year 1996 program.
Klamath-Glen Levee Repairs, California.--The Committee is
aware that the Klamath-Glen Levee in Del Norte County,
California, was constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers in
1972 with 100 percent federal funding. The levee faces serious
likelihood of failure due to design deficiencies which the
Corps of Engineers acknowledges were its fault. Failure of the
levee could have catastrophic human and economic consequences
in an already distressed area. The Committee directs the Corps
of Engineers to proceed with repairs to the Klamath-Glen Levee,
using available funds appropriated for fiscal year 1995, under
the same financial terms as the original construction. In view
of the admitted responsibility of the Corps for the design
flaws, the Committee does not believe it is appropriate for the
Corps to require a local contribution in this instance.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
operation and maintenance
The Committee recommends a rescission of $10,000,000 of the
$284,300,000 appropriated in fiscal year 1995 for the Bureau of
Reclamation's Operation and Maintenance program. Since fiscal
year 1987, the amount provided for the Bureau of Reclamation's
Operation and Maintenance program has more than doubled. While
the Committee has generally supported those past increases in
order to protect the Federal investment in completed water
resources projects, it is likely that the budgetary situation
will preclude this program from continuing to increase as it
has in the past. The Committee believes that the Bureau of
Reclamation should seek opportunities to reduce its operation
and maintenance program by looking for opportunities to turn
over more operation and maintenance responsibilities to the
beneficiaries of its projects.
In addition, the Committee is concerned about the rate of
increase in the Associated O&M; programs. The fiscal year 1996
budget request for this category of work represents an increase
of 50% above the amount provided in fiscal year 1992. The
Committee believes that as funds become more scarce,
Reclamation should focus its efforts on ensuring that the
reliability of its projects is maintained.
central valley project restoration fund
The Committee is aware that the House Committee on
Resources has indicated that it intends to reassess the scope
of the San Joaquin River Basin Resource Management study
authorized under section 3406(c)(1) of the Central Valley
Project Improvement Act in part because of the Department of
the Interior's statements that the study will not consider the
diversion of water from the Friant Division of the Central
Valley Project to restore the salmon run in the upper San
Joaquin River below Friant Dam. Given this reassessment, the
Committee is particularly concerned about the potential
misallocation of the approximately $2,800,000 that has been
programmed for this study but which remains unobligated. The
Committee, therefore, directs that the Bureau of Reclamation
not obligate any additional funds in fiscal year 1995 for the
San Joaquin River Basin Management study.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Supply, Research and Development Activities
The Committee has proposed to rescind $116,500,000 of the
$3,314,548,000 appropriated in fiscal year 1995 in the Energy
Supply, Research and Development Activities account. This
reduction shall be taken to the following programs. The
Committee is aware of the streamlining and productivity efforts
that the Department of Energy has initiated. It is assumed that
those efforts can be applied to the implementation of this
rescission.
Solar and Renewable Energy.--A $35,000,000 reduction shall
be taken as a general reduction in the Solar and Renewable
Energy program. The Committee notes that even with this
reduction, the funding for fiscal year 1995 will provide a
slight increase above funding in fiscal year 1994.
Environment, Safety and Health.--The Committee directs that
$6,000,000 shall be taken in the Environment, Safety, and
Health program to be applied to the general administrative
support for the Department of Energy's internal oversight
activities.
Biological and Environmental Research.--The Committee
directs that $15,000,000 be applied as a general reduction to
the activities in the Biological and Environmental Research
program. This reduction to the fiscal year 1995 appropriation
will still provide for a 3 percent increase over the fiscal
year 1994 appropriation.
Advanced Neutron Source.--The Administration's budget
proposal for fiscal year 1996 proposes termination of the
Advanced Neutron Source (ANS) project of the Department of
Energy. The Committee understands that the amount appropriated
for ANS in fiscal year 1995 exceeds termination costs by
$7,500,000 and therefore recommends a rescission in this
amount.
Energy Oversight, Research Analysis and University
Support.--The Committee directs that an $8,000,000 reduction be
applied to the Laboratory Technology Transfer activity in the
Energy Oversight, Research Analysis and University Support
program. Even with this reduction, the funding for the
Laboratory Technology Transfer activity has increased by 31
percent over fiscal year 1994.
Environmental Restoration and Waste Management (Non-
Defense).--The Committee directs a reduction of $45,000,000 in
the Environmental Restoration and Waste Management activities.
This reduction should be taken against those activities which
are not direct cleanup efforts performed at Department of
Energy sites.
defense environmental restoration and waste management
The Committee recommends a rescission of $28,000,000 of
funds appropriated in fiscal year 1995.
Departmental Administration
The Committee has proposed to rescind $20,000,000 of the
fiscal year 1995 appropriation of $407,312,000 for salaries and
expenses of the Department of Energy. This 5 percent reduction
is to be applied to the administrative operations of the
Department including salaries and expenses and program support
activities. The Committee is aware that the Department has
often responded to reductions in this account by assessing
other program organizations for the same services. Compensating
for these reductions by assessing other program organizations
for services normally paid out of this account is not
acceptable. The Department should be critically evaluating its
general management activities to position itself for an
anticipated downsizing in fiscal year 1996.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION
The Committee recommends a rescission of $10,000,000.
Notwithstanding this reduction, the net appropriation for
fiscal year 1995 will support a program level exceeding the
Administration's fiscal year 1995 budget request by
$85,000,000. The reduction is recommended in recognition of
severe budgetary constraints, which will only become more
pronounced as Congress works to produce a balanced budget by
the year 2002.
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
The Committee recommends a rescission of $5,000,000 to be
applied to the appropriated programs of the Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA). The reduction is to be taken against the
$142,873,000 appropriated to TVA for fiscal year 1995.
CHAPTER IV
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS
MULTILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
funds appropriated to the president
International Financial Institutions
international organizations and programs
The Committee recommends a rescission of $25,000,000 from
funds appropriated for fiscal year 1995. The increase in
appropriations in this account from $310,000,000 in fiscal year
1993 to the current level of $374,000,000 can not be sustained
in the current budget environment.
This rescission does not affect the United Nations
Children's Fund, for which $100,000,000 has already been
obligated. The Committee notes with regret the recent death of
James P. Grant, an American citizen who served with distinction
as Executive Director of UNICEF for many years.
BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
funds appropriated to the president
Agency for International Development
development assistance fund
The Committee recommends a rescission of $45,500,000 from
the Development Assistance Fund of the Agency for International
Development (AID). The Committee recommends that AID apportion
the reductions, to the maximum extent possible, equitably among
all of the activities funded by this account.
population, development assistance
The Committee recommends a rescission of $9,000,000 from
this account which has increased from $350,000,000 in fiscal
year 1993 to $450,000,000 in the current fiscal year. This
increase in appropriations can not be sustained in the current
appropriations environment.
MILITARY ASSISTANCE
Funds Appropriated to the President
peacekeeping operations
The Committee recommends a rescission of $4,500,000 from
the $75,000,000 provided in fiscal year 1995. Although this
appropriation was justified last year as being urgently needed
for specific international peacekeeping activities funded by
the United States on a voluntary basis, the Administration
subsequently diverted $27,000,000 to unplanned activities in
Haiti that have not previously been funded from this account.
EXPORT ASSISTANCE
export-import bank of the united states
subsidy appropriation
The Committee recommends a rescission of $5,000,000 from
the total $1,786,551,000 in subsidy appropriations provided in
fiscal years 1994 and 1995. At least $300,000,000 was provided
in fiscal year 1994 for exports to the Russian Federation,
especially in the oil and gas sectors, which have not
materialized due to the uncertain business climate and flagging
market reform. The Committee commends the Export-Import Bank
for its prudent approach to the risks involved when pledging
the full faith and credit of the United States to secure
financial arrangements in Russian under the current conditions.
Funds Appropriated to the President
trade and development agency
The Committee recommends a rescission of $4,500,000 from
the $44,986,000 provided to the Trade and Development Agency
(TDA) in fiscal year 1995. The Committee notes that TDA is the
only one of the three international export/investment agencies
that makes grants to foreign governments. The Committee
encourages TDA to cooperate with the Congress in developing a
method of recouping a portion of its costs from American
companies that benefit from its financial support, thereby
reducing TDA's future appropriation requirements.
CHAPTER V
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
management of lands and resources
The Committee recommends a rescission of $70,000 from
Management of Lands and Resources to be derived from amounts
available for developing and finalizing the Roswell Resource
Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement and the Carlsbad
Resource Management Plan Amendment/Environmental Impact
Statement, and has placed a moratorium on the implementation of
such plans.
construction and access
The Committee recommends a rescission of $4,500,000 from
Construction and Access, which is comprised of a $3,500,000
reduction from the Campbell Creek Environmental Education
Center, AK, and $1,000,0000 from the Yaquina Head Ecological
Interpretive Center, OR.
payments in lieu of taxes
The Committee recommends a rescission of $5,000,000 from
Payments in Lieu of Taxes. The remaining $98,909,000 available
for fiscal year 1995 is a 5 percent reduction below the fiscal
year 1994 funding level.
land acquisition
The Committee recommends a rescission of $1,997,000 from
Land Acquisition to be distributed as follows:
Project: Rescission
Organ Mountains, NM................................. -$500,000
Oregon City, OR..................................... -728,000
Pariette Wetlands, UT............................... -185,000
Warner Lake, OR..................................... -584,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. -$1,997,000
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Resource Management
The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,000,000 from
Resource Management for endangered species listing activities.
construction
The Committee recommends a rescission of $14,390,000 from
Construction to be distributed as follows:
Project: Rescission
Alaska Maritime NWR, refuge facilities.............. -$1,100,000
Crab Orchard NWR, IL, dam repairs, completed........ -51,000
Flint Hills NWR, KS, office/visitor center
renovation........................................ -649,000
Grays Harbor NWR, WA, Bowerman Basin trails......... -349,000
Hatchie NWR, TN, handicapped fishing access......... -485,000
Hurricane Andrew relief funds, completed............ -66,000
Kenai NWR, AK, Skilak loop camp ground.............. -4,097,000
Lake Ilo NWR, ND, dam, completed.................... -1,146,000
Little River NWR, OK, headquarters.................. -2,500,000
Lower Suwannee NWR, FL, bridge, completed........... -20,000
Lower Suwannee NWR, FL, facility, completed......... -139,000
Mark Twain NWR, IL Brussels/Wapello, boat ramps..... -408,000
Stillwater NWR, NV, water delivery system........... -1,200,000
Stone Lakes NWR, CA, water supply................... -293,000
Tensas NWR, LA, public use access road.............. -150,000
Tishomingo NWR, OK, administrative office........... -422,000
Trempealeau NWR, WI, Lower Barrier Dike, completed.. -33,000
Upper Mississippi NWR, MN, repair public access..... -959,000
Upper Mississippi NWR, MN, boat ramps............... -319,000
White River NWR, AR, Essex Bayou bridge, completed.. -4,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. -$14,390,000
land acquisition
The Committee recommends a rescission of $7,345,000 from
Land Acquisition to be distributed as follows:
Project: Rescission
Canaan Valley NWR, WV............................... -$500,000
EB Forsythe NWR, NJ................................. -2,800,000
Grays Harbor NWR, WA................................ -749,000
Great Meadows NWR, MA............................... -352,000
Lake Umbagog NWR, ME, NH............................ -2,250,000
Petit Manan NWR, ME................................. -461,000
Walnut Creek NWR, IA................................ -233,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. -$7,345,000
National Biological Survey
research, inventories, and surveys
The Committee recommends a rescission of $16,680,000 from
Research, Inventories, and Surveys. The recommended reductions
more closely reflect the total base funding for the seven
Interior bureaus prior to the establishment of the National
Biological Survey in 1993. The Committee expects the Survey to
avoid any increase in staffing at the regional offices. The
distribution of the recommended rescission follows:
Project: Rescission
Research............................................ -$8,660,000
Inventory and Monitoring............................ -3,350,000
Information Transfer................................ -1,870,000
Cooperative Research units.......................... -1,450,000
Facilities operation and maintenance................ -750,000
Administration...................................... -600,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. -$16,680,000
National Park Service
construction
The Committee recommends a rescission of $22,831,000 from
Construction. This rescission reflects a serious effort by the
Committee to eliminate funding for projects that represent
agency low priorities or projects that can be delayed. The
outyear savings as a result of this action is projected to be
$48,000,000. The distribution of the recommended rescission
follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projected
Project Rescission Outyear
Savings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blue Ridge Parkway (Fisher Peak), VA.. -$4,900,000 $7,500,000
Chamizal NM, TX....................... -1,200,000 1,000,000
Chickamauga-Chattanooga NMP, GA....... -1,900,000 15,000,000
Grand Canyon NP, AZ................... -2,000,000 ..............
Monocacy Nat. Battlefield (Gambrill),
MD................................... -863,000 3,300,000
National Trail Center, IA............. -3,700,000 6,200,000
Maine Acadian Culture (tech.
assistance).......................... -995,000 ..............
Cuyahoga NRA, OH...................... -200,000 ..............
Lincoln Research Center, IL........... -5,100,000 15,000,000
Lowell Historic Preservation
Commission, MA....................... -1,773,000 ..............
Vicksburg NB, MS (tech. assistance)... -200,000 ..............
---------------------------------
Total........................... -$22,831,000 $48,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
urban park and recreation fund
The Committee recommends a rescission of $7,480,000 from
the Urban Park and Recreation Fund. This will eliminate the
program in fiscal year 1995.
While the program's goal of providing incentives for cities
to improve their recreational opportunities is of value, the
Committee believes that, given the size of the federal deficit,
programs of this nature are more appropriately left to State
and local governments.
land acquisition and state assistance
The Committee recommends a rescission of $16,509,000 from
Land Acquisition and State Assistance. Of the 18 projects
listed below, 11 were not requested by the National Park
Service. Funds for several projects represent carry over
funding from previous years. In some instances, funds were
appropriated as far back as fiscal year 1984 but never
expended. For example, acquisition at Jefferson National
Expansion Memorial has been slowed by the discovery of toxic
substances. Salt River Bay NHP is on hold awaiting the Virgin
Island Government's approval of the land protection plan. In
the case of Valley Forge NHP, no appraisals have been ordered
and acquisition is unlikely in fiscal year 1995. The Committee
recommends the following distribution of the rescission:
Project: Rescission
Acadia NP, ME....................................... -$1,000,000
Big South Fork NRA, TN, KY.......................... -500,000
Congaree Swamp NM, SC............................... -100,000
Fire Island NS, NY.................................. -300,000
Jefferson Expansion Memorial, IL.................... -700,000
Salt River NHP, VI.................................. -3,000,000
Valley Forge NHP, PA................................ -1,300,000
Antietam NB, MD..................................... -1,400,000
C&O; Canal NHP, MD, WV, DC........................... -205,000
Chaco Culture NHP, NM............................... -271,000
Denali NP, AK....................................... -4,800,000
Ft. Raleigh NHS, NC................................. -372,000
Lowell NHP, MA...................................... -447,000
Natchez NHP, MS..................................... -321,000
Obed River WSR, TN.................................. -261,000
Palo Alto NB, TX.................................... -494,000
San Antonio Missions NHP, TX........................ -424,000
Weir Farm NHS, CT................................... -614,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. -$16,509,000
Bureau of Indian Affairs
operation of indian programs
The Committee recommends a rescission of $4,046,000 from
Operation of Indian Programs. The rescission recommendation
includes, $2,583,000 for Indian business development grants and
$1,463,000 for special tribal courts.
construction
The Committee recommends a rescission of $10,309,000 from
Construction, including $2,000,000 from emergency shelters,
$4,000,000 from contingency funds, $2,900,000 from employee
housing, and $1,409,000 from fish hatchery rehabilitation.
The $2,000,000 for emergency shelters is no longer needed
for its stated purpose. The rescission of $4,000,000 from
contingency funds should still provide sufficient funds to meet
the demands for construction projects currently in the pipeline
for fiscal year 1995. The rescission of $2,900,000 for employee
housing reduces unobligated balances while maintaining
sufficient funds for this function. The rescission of
$1,409,000 from hatchery rehabilitation eliminates over 35
small, low-priority projects.
Territorial and International Affairs
administration of territories
The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,438,000 from
Administration of Territories, including $438,000 in disaster
assistance and $2,000,000 in maintenance assistance to the
Northern Mariana Islands.
trust territory of the pacific islands
The Committee recommends a rescission of $32,139,000 from
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands for government
operations grants. This grant program designed to provide
operational support, was terminated when Micronesian entities
changed their political status through the Compact of Free
Association.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
forest research
The Committee recommends a rescission of $6,000,000 from
Forest Research. The reduction should be taken from lower
priority activities. The remaining fiscal year 1995 funding
level is a $665,000 increase over the fiscal year 1994
appropriation.
state and private forestry
The Committee recommends a rescission of $12,500,000 from
State and Private Forestry for the Forest Legacy program.
international forestry
The Committee recommends a rescission of $1,000,000 from
International Forestry. The Committee considers this new
program to be of lower priority than other Forest Service
efforts.
national forest system
The Committee recommends a rescission of $3,327,000 from
the National Forest System of which $2,827,000 is for general
administration and $500,000 is for recreation use, wilderness
management. The remaining fiscal year 1995 funding level for
wilderness management, recreation use is a $1,119,000 increase
over the fiscal year 1994 appropriation.
construction
The Committee recommends a rescission of $4,919,000 from
Construction to be distributed as follows.
Project: Rescission
Alabama NFs, Bankhead NF, Clear Creek, campground... -$418,000
Arapaho-Roosevelt NF, CO, Boulder Office............ -50,000
Florida NFs. Ocala NF, Salt Springs rehabilitation.. -599,000
Hiawatha NF, MI, St. Ignace administrative site..... -210,000
Kaibab NF, AZ, Chalender Ranger Station............. -85,000
Lolo NF, MT, Seeley Lake warehouse.................. -239,000
Nebraska NF, Hudson-Meng, Prairie Center design..... -231,000
North Carolina NFs, Uwharrie NF, Badin Lake
campgrounds....................................... -399,000
Pike/San Isabel NF, CO, Twin Lakes recreation area.. -370,000
Routt NF, CO, Routt Office.......................... -211,000
Routt NF, CO, Fish Creek Fall recreation area....... -77,000
Texas NF, Cagle Campground.......................... -238,000
Toiyabe NF, NV, Carson Office expansion............. -360,000
Tongass-Chatham NF, AK, Hoonah warehouse............ -494,000
Wasatch-Cache NF, UT, Salt Lake District Office..... -351,000
White River NF, CO, Redstone campground............. -492,000
White River NF, CO, Maroon Valley recreation area... -95,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. -$4,919,000
land acquisition
The Committee recommends a rescission of $3,974,000 from
Land Acquisition to be distributed as follows:
Project: Rescission
Chattooga, WSR NC/SC................................ -$405,000
Colorado Wilderness, CO............................. -300,000
Green Mountain NF, VT............................... -1,600,000
Pinhoti Trail, AL, trail acquisition................ -257,000
Seneca Rocks, WV.................................... -422,000
Uwharrie NF, NC..................................... -900,000
Wayne NF, OH........................................ -90,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. -$3,974,000
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
fossil energy research and development
The Committee recommends a rescission of $18,650,000 from
Fossil Energy Research and Development, including $1,250,000
for coal bed methane research, $1,700,000 for planar solid
oxide fuel cells, and $1,000,000 for gas to liquids research in
the natural gas program; $5,000,000 for the advanced
computational technology initiative, including $3,500,000 in
the natural gas program and $1,500,000 in the oil program;
$5,000,000 in the oil program for Class 4 recovery field
demonstration projects; and $4,700,000 in the coal program,
including $1,200,000 for the gasification project improvement
facility in WV, and $3,500,000 for in-house liquefaction
research of which $2,000,000 is for indirect liquefaction and
$1,500,000 is for direct liquefaction.
naval petroleum and oil share reserves
The Committee recommends a rescission of $21,000,000 from
the Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves (NPR). This amount
is equivalent to the unobligated prior year funding available
to NPR as of January 1995. The remaining funds available for
fiscal year 1995, along with prior year unobligated funds, and
uncosted balances in the operations contact for the NPR should
be sufficient to fund operations at the reserves for the fiscal
year 1995.
energy conservation
The Committee recommends a rescission of $59,928,000 from
Energy Conservation, including $46,228,000 in fiscal year 1995
funding and $13,700,000 in fiscal year 1994 funding.
The $13,700,000 in fiscal year 1994 funding which is
recommended for rescission was appropriated in industry
programs for a direct steelmaking demonstration program which
has not been initiated. Such a demonstration program
potentially has large outyear commitments for the Federal
government and the Committee believes that this project is more
appropriately left to private industry.
Rescissions recommended for fiscal year 1995 include
$8,010,000 in buildings programs, $1,918,000 in industry
programs, $21,500,000 in transportation programs of which
$20,000,000 is for fleet demonstration vehicle purchases by
Federal agencies and $1,500,000 is for the partnership for new
generation vehicles initiative, and $14,800,000 in technical
and financial assistance for the weatherization assistance
program which leaves about $5,000,000 of the $20,000,000
increase provided for that program in fiscal year 1995. The
recommended rescissions in building programs include $5,000,000
for the Federal energy efficiency fund, $2,500,000 for Rebuild
America which leaves $5,500,000 for that effort, and $510,000
for market pull partnerships in the areas of heating and
cooling. Industry program rescissions include $347,000 for
electric drives and $1,571,000 for the climate-wise initiative
which leaves about $2,400,000 for that program.
The rescission recommended for the weatherization
assistance program should not interfere with the adoption of
the new distribution formula. The new formula should be applied
to the total amount available after the rescission.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
indian education
The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,000,000 from
Indian Education for special programs for Indian children. This
rescission reduces a variety of discretionary grants including:
demonstration grants, professional development, and
fellowships. However, this reduction leaves sufficient funds
and flexibility for the Department to continue to fund
grantees.
OTHER RELATED AGENCIES
Smithsonian Institution
construction and improvements, national zoological park
The Committee recommends a rescission of $1,000,000 from
Construction and Improvements, National Zoological Park. Of
this amount, $500,000 is rescinded from the Front Royal
Conservation and Research Center for road repairs and $500,000
from construction of the aquatic trail at the National
Zoological Park.
construction
The Committee recommends a rescission of $31,012,000 from
Construction. Of this amount, $1,700,000 is rescinded for the
Post Office Building renovation, $3,900,000 is rescinded for
the Air and Space Extension and $375,000 is rescinded for
planning of this facility, $21,900,000 is rescinded for the
National Museum of the American Indian Cultural Center in
Suitland, Maryland and $987,000 is rescinded for planning of
the NMAI mall facility, and $2,150,000 is rescinded from the
alterations and modifications account for ten display
modification projects that most likely will not be started this
year.
Although federal funds have been expended for some of these
projects, all are in the pre-construction phase. These
rescissions will result in a projected outyear savings of $187
million dollars.
National Gallery of Art
repair, restoration and renovation of buildings
The Committee recommends a rescission of $407,000 from
Repair, Restoration and Renovation of Buildings to eliminate
the remaining funds for a proposed sculpture garden.
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
construction
The Committee recommends a rescission of $3,000,000 from
Construction for capital repair and renovation funding. It is
the Committee's understanding that this reduction will not
affect renovation projects scheduled for 1995.
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
salaries and expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,300,000 from
Salaries and Expenses for the costs associated with completing
the interior space which has been reserved for the Center in
the Federal Triangle Building and for purchasing furniture.
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
National Endowment for the Arts
grants and administration
The Committee recommends a rescission of $5,000,000 from
Grants and Administration, including $1,000,000 from
administration and $4,000,000 from the arts programs. Of the
$4,000,000 the Committee recommends that to the maximum extent
practicable NEA reduce grants to individuals, excluding the
National Heritage Fellowship Awards from any reductions.
National Endowment for the Humanities
grants and administration
The Committee recommends a rescission of $5,000,000 from
Grants and Administration, including $1,000,000 from
administration and $4,000,000 from the grants program.
CHAPTER VI
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION, AND RELATED
AGENCIES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
training and employment services
The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,285,376,000
appropriated in Public Law 103-333 and Public Law 103-112 for
programs under the Job Training Partnership Act, the School-to-
Work Opportunities Act, the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act
and other similar authorities. The President requested no
rescissions in this account. The rescissions were taken against
a base funding level of $6,188,167,000. The Committee has
attempted to eliminate or substantially reduce ineffective or
low-priority programs; to eliminate very small categorical
programs whose purposes can be served under larger job training
programs; to restrain the growth of some large programs which
have grown rapidly in recent years; and to eliminate or reduce
small commissions and boards. Virtually all of these funds are
not available for obligation until July 1, 1995. The following
table reflects the Committee's recommendations:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 1995 Recommended
Program appropriation rescission
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adult job training.................... $1,054,813 -$33,000
Youth job training.................... 598,682 -310,000
Summer youth employment (1995)........ 867,070 -867,070
Summer youth employment (1996)........ 871,540 -871,540
Displaced worker program.............. 1,296,000 -99,300
School-to-work........................ 125,000 -12,500
Job Corps construction................ 142,029 -10,000
Youth Fair Chance..................... 24,785 -24,785
Native American job training.......... 64,080 -6,408
Migrants and seasonal farmworkers job
training............................. 85,710 -8,571
JTPA pilots and demonstrations........ 35,522 -10,500
JTPA research and demonstration....... 12,196 -3,000
Veterans homeless job training........ 5,011 -5,011
Rural concentrated employment programs 3,861 -3,861
Women in apprenticeship............... 744 -744
American Samoans...................... 5,000 -5,000
Microenterprise grants................ 2,250 -2,250
JTPA capacity building................ 6,000 -6,000
National Commission for Employment
Policy............................... 2,223 -2,223
National Occupational Information
Coordinating Committee............... 6,000 -500
National Center for the Workplace..... 1,113 -1,113
National Skill Standards Board........ 6,000 -2,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The bill includes a rescission of $33,000,000 for the adult
job training program under the Job Training Partnership Act
(JTPA). This represents a three percent reduction in the FY
1995 appropriation, but it still allows a three percent
increase over FY 1994. The FY 1995 appropriation is not
available for obligation until July 1, 1995.
For the youth job training program authorized by title II,
part C of JTPA, the bill includes a rescission of $310,000,000.
The FY 1995 appropriation is not available for obligation until
July 1, 1995. The rescission recommended by the Committee
represents about a 52 percent reduction in the program. The
revised level for FY 1995 is $288,682,000; this is the same
level requested by the President for this program for FY 1996.
The Committee is accelerating the reduction in the program
through this rescission.
There appears to be little evidence that this program is
successfully preparing people for the future job market. The
Department recently published a comprehensive review of the
economic impacts of employment and training programs entitled
What's Working and What's Not. This review contained several
discouraging conclusions concerning this program. It was noted
that short-term skills training has ``been found to be
unsuccessful in raising youth employment or earnings'' and that
``it does not appear that JTPA youth training has significant
positive impacts.'' It also noted that subsidized work
experience for disadvantaged youth ``has generally not had
long-term positive effects on employment or earnings''.
The bill includes a total rescission of $1,738,610,000 for
the summer youth employment program under JTPA. This includes
$867,070,000 for the summer of 1995 and $871,540,000 for the
summer of 1996. This action would terminate the program. A
portion of these funds, $682,282,000, was included in the FY
1994 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act. This program has
not provided permanent skills training or education for young
people. It is basically an income supplement. The Department's
own reviews indicate that ``. . . subsidized work experience
alone has not been particularly successful in improving the
employability of out-of-school disadvantaged high school
dropouts once the subsidized work [has] ended.'' Subsidized
work experience ``. . . has generally not had long-term
positive effects on employment and earnings.'' These jobs are
public sector jobs that do not meet critical needs. The
Committee believes that this program is a lower-priority
Federal activity that we can no longer afford.
The Committee recommends a rescission of $99,300,000 for
the displaced worker program under title III of JTPA. This
represents a little over half of the increase provided in the
FY 1995 appropriations act. The amount remaining after the
rescission would be $1,196,700,000; this is still an increase
over FY 1994 of 7 percent. This program has grown rapidly over
the past couple of years. In FY 1993 the appropriation was
$566,646,000. Program evaluations have questioned the
effectiveness of short-term training for displaced workers.
For the School-to-Work program which is in its second year
of operation, the bill includes a rescission of $12,500,000.
This represents a 10 percent reduction in the appropriation.
The original appropriation was $125,000,000; in FY 1994 it was
only $50,000,000. After the rescission, the program would still
have more than double the funds that it had in FY 1994. The
Committee supports this program and wants to see it succeed.
However, in the current fiscal climate, savings must be found
in all areas of the budget.
The bill rescinds the entire amount of the appropriation
for the Youth Fair Chance program under the Job Training
Partnership Act. The FY 1995 amount was $24,785,000. The
Committee does not agree that there is a need for this separate
categorical program to serve ``youths'' up to 30 years of age.
This population can be served under the basic JTPA block grant.
For the Native American and migrant and seasonal farmworker
job training programs, the Committee recommends a rescission
totaling $14,979,000; this includes $6,408,000 for Native
Americans and $8,571,000 for migrants. This is a 10 percent
reduction in current appropriations. In the current fiscal
climate, savings must be found in all areas of the budget.
These groups could be served under the basic JTPA State block
grants.
The bill includes a rescission of $10,500,000 for pilots
and demonstrations under JTPA. This is a reduction of 30
percent from the current appropriation. There would be
$25,022,000 remaining after the rescission. These are special-
purpose discretionary funds that go to a variety of interest
groups and organizations.
The Committee recommends a rescission of $3,000,000 for
research and demonstrations under JTPA. This is a reduction of
25 percent from the current appropriation. There would be
$9,196,000 remaining after the rescission. No part of this
reduction shall be taken from evaluation funding, particularly
for the ongoing Job Corps evaluation. The Committee feels that
research and demonstration are a lower-priority activity at a
time of great fiscal constraint.
For the Job Corps program, the Committee has included a
rescission of $10,000,000 for capital costs. This eliminates
funding for four new centers approved in the FY 1995
appropriations act. There are still eight new centers underway
that were approved in prior fiscal years. The Committee has
eliminated funding for the four centers because of concerns
over the long-range construction and operating costs associated
with them. Each new center on average costs about $16,000,000
to build and about $10,000,000 per year to operate. The
Committee has always supported the Job Corps program and will
continue to do so to the extent budgetary allocations permit.
However, in the current fiscal climate, savings must be found
in all areas of the budget.
The Committee has eliminated several small job training
activities which simply cannot be afforded any longer. These
include microenterprise grants, American Samoan training, rural
concentrated employment programs, women in apprenticeship,
veterans homeless job training, and JTPA capacity building
activities. The bill eliminates the National Center for the
Workplace which the Committee believes is not a critical
Federal activity. The Committee notes that the President
proposes to eliminate this in his FY 1996 budget. The bill also
eliminates the National Commission for Employment Policy which
performs studies that could be done by other groups and is not
a critical activity. The Committee has reduced funding for the
National Skill Standards Board by $2,000,000 and reduced the
National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee by
$500,000.
community service employment for older americans
The bill includes a rescission of $14,440,000 for the older
workers employment program under title V of the Older Americans
Act. This includes $11,263,000 for national contractors and
$3,177,000 for State grants. This returns the program to the
original FY 1995 President's budget request level. It is a
reduction of 3.5 percent. These funds are not obligated by the
Department until July 1.
state unemployment insurance and employment service operations
The Committee recommends a total rescission for this
account of $28,000,000. The original appropriation was
$3,416,285,000. Most of this appropriation is derived by
transfer from the Unemployment Trust Fund, but it does include
$147,188,000 in general funds. The Committee recommends three
reductions in this account. First, a rescission of $9,000,000
is included for excess postage funds that are currently
available to the State employment security agencies; the
President requested a $4,000,000 rescission for this purpose.
In addition, the Department proposed to transfer an additional
$3,806,000 from postage funds to another account; the Committee
has not approved the transfer. Instead, the Committee
recommends that $9,000,000 be rescinded. Second, the Committee
has reduced Employment Service State grants by $7,000,000. This
is a reduction of about one percent from the enacted
appropriation for FY 1995; the States would still have a small
increase available to them for FY 1995. The amount remaining
would be $838,912,000. Third, the bill includes a rescission of
$12,000,000 for the new one-stop career center program. This is
a reduction of 10 percent from the enacted appropriation of
$120,000,000. This program was funded at $50,000,000 in FY
1994. The Committee supports this program but given the
expansion in the FY 1995 appropriation it feels that the
program can absorb this relatively small reduction without
adverse consequences.
Employment Standards Administration
salaries and expenses
The bill includes a rescission of $2,487,000 for the Wage
and Hour Division of the Employment Standards Administration.
The FY 1995 appropriation was $101,372,000, which was an
increase of $4,230,000 over FY 1994. The Committee has removed
only part of the increase provided. The Wage and Hour Division
administers a number of wage protection statutes, including the
Davis-Bacon Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Service
Contract Act.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
salaries and expenses
The bill includes a rescission of $16,072,000 for the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This
represents the entire increase over the FY 1994 appropriation.
The agency would still have an operating budget of $296,428,000
for FY 1995. The reduction would be spread over every budget
activity in the agency; the bulk of it, $10,170,000, would come
from Federal and State enforcement activities.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
health resources and services
The Committee recommends a rescission of $82,775,000 for
ten activities funded under this account. The original fiscal
year 1995 appropriation for the account was $3,071,059,000. The
President requested rescissions totaling $29,147,000. The
recommended reductions are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995 Proposed
Program appropriation rescission
------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Health Service Corps......... $125,123,000 $12,500,000
Rural health research................. 13,176,000 3,750,000
State offices of rural health......... 3,875,000 3,875,000
Native Hawaiian health care........... 4,524,000 3,300,000
Pacific Basin initiative.............. 2,861,000 1,000,000
Organ transplantation................. 2,629,000 2,450,000
Trauma care........................... 4,793,000 4,500,000
Health care facilities................ 15,000,000 15,000,000
Healthy Start......................... 110,000,000 10,000,000
Rural health outreach grants.......... 27,029,000 26,400,000
---------------------------------
Total rescissions............. ............... 82,775,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rescission of $12,500,000 for the National Health
Service Corps represents a ten percent reduction in the size of
the program. The General Accounting Office testified that the
Department has no long term retention data to judge the impact
of the program. Concerns have been raised that 7 percent of the
students have defaulted and another 13 percent have satisfied
their obligation through financial payment rather than service.
The Committee has not distributed the reduction between the
field placement and recruitment activities in order to give the
Department of Health and Human Services flexibility to minimize
program disruption.
The Committee recommends a rescission of $3,750,000 for
rural health research, bringing funding back to the fiscal year
1994 level and the House-passed mark. The program received a 40
percent increase in 1995. Rural health research is conducted
throughout the Department of Health and Human Services,
including the Health Care Financing Administration and the
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
The bill includes a rescission of $3,875,000 for State
offices of rural health to terminate the program. All fifty
States have received funds under this program to establish
State offices; the program has been funded since 1991. Most
funding is used for staff costs.
A rescission of $3,300,000 is proposed for Native Hawaiian
health care, along with a $1,000,000 rescission of Pacific
Basin initiative funds. All remaining 1995 funding for the two
programs would be terminated. The Committee questions the need
for specific programs for particular geographic populations
when they have access to other national programs, like
community health centers, Medicaid, and the preventive health
services block grant.
The Committee recommends rescissions of $2,450,000 for
organ transplantation and $4,500,000 for trauma care. All
remaining funding for the two programs would be terminated. The
transplantation program does not finance organ transplants; it
supports auxiliary activities such as a registry and a network,
which could be financed from alternative sources. The trauma
care funding supports State planning activities, not the care
of patients. The program has been funded since 1992. Preventive
health services block grant funding can also be used for this
purpose.
The bill includes a rescission of $15,000,000 appropriated
for the construction of health care facilities, which would
terminate all funding. The President requested a $2 million
rescission of these funds in the 1996 budget. A rarely used,
expired authority was cited in the 1995 bill with the intent of
funding two construction projects in West Virginia and one in
Pennsylvania. The construction of outpatient health care
facilities has not been a principal function of the Department
of Health and Human Services.
The Committee recommends a rescission of $10,000,000 for
the Healthy Start program, which would preserve a $2,500,000
increase over the 1994 level. The new total funding level of
$100,000,000 is the same as the President's 1996 request for
the program. This demonstration program has received $263
million since 1991.
The bill includes a rescission of $26,400,000 for rural
outreach grants, which would terminate all remaining funding.
The program has been supported with $91.8 million since 1991
with no specific authorization. It was intended to be a
demonstration to establish coordination among health care
providers in rural areas.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
disease control, research, and training
The Committee recommends a rescission of $8,883,000 for
three activities funded under this account. The original fiscal
year 1995 appropriation for the account was $2,087,272,000. The
President requested rescissions totaling $1,300,000. The
recommended reductions are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995 Proposed
Program appropriation rescission
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Infectious diseases................... $53,543,000 $2,800,000
Injury control........................ 44,979,000 1,300,000
National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health.................... 133,120,000 4,783,000
---------------------------------
Total rescissions............... ............... 8,883,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee bill proposes a rescission of $2,800,000 for
infectious diseases. Even with this reduction, half of the
increase provided in 1995 for the program would be maintained.
After the rescission, infectious diseases would receive a 7
percent increase.
The Committee bill accepts the President's recommendation
to rescind $1,300,000 of injury control funding. The program
received a 14 percent increase in 1995; after the rescission,
it would still receive a $4,371,000 increase.
The bill includes a rescission of $4,783,000 for the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. This
would return funding to the 1994 level, which was the amount
approved by the House. The funding increase was targeted to a
new intramural laboratory facility in West Virginia.
National Institutes of Health
national center for research resources
The Committee recommends a rescission of $20,000,000
appropriated for extramural facilities construction grants. No
funds would remain for this activity in 1995. The original 1995
appropriation for the account was $294,737,000. The President
proposed a $1,000,000 rescission for this activity. The
National Institutes of Health support $270 million of facility
construction through indirect cost reimbursement. This modest
direct Federal funding for facilities is too small to have any
significant impact on nationwide construction needs; direct
university research facility construction has not been a
principal National Institutes of Health responsibility for many
years.
buildings and facilities
The Committee recommends the rescission of $50,000,000 of
funds appropriated in previous fiscal years for construction
projects on the National Institutes of Health campus that are
no longer anticipated to be built. These funds have remained
available until expended. The Committee recognizes that the
National Institutes of Health has been developing plans for
alternative uses of these funds; by its action, the Committee
has not rendered judgment on these alternate projects.
Assistant Secretary for Health
office of the assistant secretary for health
The Committee rescinds $1,400,000 of the $2,760,000
appropriated for health care data analysis activities in 1995,
thereby terminating all remaining funding for this program.
Appropriated funds support staff and in-house data activities
directly related to development of the Administration health
care initiative which is no longer under Congressional
consideration. As such, the funding for these activities is no
longer required. The Committee will consider additional
requests for general data analysis related to health care
issues in the FY 1996 bill.
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
health care policy and research
The bill includes a rescission of $3,132,000 in Federal
funds appropriated for the Agency for Health Care Policy and
Research, which received an appropriation of $138,541,000 in
fiscal year 1995. The agency also received a transfer of
$5,796,000 in Medicare trust funds and $18,300,000 in funds
derived from the one percent evaluation tap on other Public
Health Service agencies, for a total 1995 resource level of
$162,637,000. The rescission would reduce Federal funds to the
1994 level; there would continue to be a small increase over
1994 levels in total resources. Since the agency's creation in
fiscal year 1991, its funding has risen from $115 million to
$163 million, a 42 percent increase.
Health Care Financing Administration
program management
The Committee recommends a rescission of $38,200,000 for
five activities funded under this account. The funding
originally made available for the account in fiscal year 1995
was $2,199,727,000. The President requested rescissions
totaling $20,000,000. The recommended reductions are as
follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995 Proposed
Program appropriation rescission
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research.............................. $56,146,000 $11,000,000
Insurance counseling.................. 10,036,000 5,500,000
New rural health grants............... 1,737,000 1,700,000
Rural hospital transition grants...... 17,584,000 17,000,000
Essential access community hospitals.. 3,500,000 3,000,000
---------------------------------
Total rescissions............... ............... $38,200,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee proposes rescissions of $11,000,000 for
research and $5,500,000 for insurance counseling, which would
reduce the programs' funding levels to the amounts originally
requested by the President in fiscal year 1995. The research
budget received a 30 percent funding increase in 1995, largely
targeted for particular Congressionally-initiated research
projects identified in report language. The insurance
counseling program has provided grants to all States; in the
last three years, $30,000,000 has been distributed. As Federal
funding phases down, States can support these activities if
they believe they are worthwhile. The reduced funding level for
insurance counseling is also the same as the President's 1996
budget request.
The bill includes a rescission of $1,700,000 for new rural
health grants, which would terminate the program. The program
is a very small grant activity begun in 1994 which awards
grants to six States to encourage innovation in health care
delivery and financing. These activities also receive support
from other parts of the Health Care Financing Administration,
as well as from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
The Committee proposes rescissions of $17,000,000 for rural
hospital transition grants and $3,000,000 for essential access
community hospitals, which would terminate all remaining
funding for the two programs. The President proposed
rescissions of the same amount in the 1996 budget. The
President originally proposed a phasedown of the rural hospital
transition grants in the 1995 budget, which was included in the
House-passed bill. The Administration believes that the program
has had only limited impact. The essential access community
hospital program by law can provide grants to only seven States
and to only a limited number of hospitals in each State. As a
result, in previous years, funding has lapsed in the program.
The Administration contends that because rural hospitals have
received substantial increases in Medicare reimbursement rates
the need for both these programs has lessened.
Administration for Children and Families
low income home energy assistance
The Committee rescinds the $1,319,204,000 advance
appropriation that was provided for the Low Income Home Energy
Assistance program in the FY 1995 appropriations act for the
period October 1, 1995 through September 30, 1996, thereby
terminating all 1996 advance funding for the program. The
Committee recommends no action regarding FY 1995 funding
provided in the FY 1994 appropriations act. The Committee notes
that this program was initiated to temporarily supplement
existing cash assistance programs to help low income
individuals pay for escalating home fuel costs resulting from
the second energy crisis and was not intended to meet the
entire home energy costs of assisted individuals. Since the
program's creation, real energy prices for all three sources
have declined to pre-1980 levels. The price of electricity, the
most costly source of home energy, has decreased to pre-1974
levels according to Administration figures. In addition, the
Administration informed the Committee in 1994 that low income
families now spend one-third less of their income on home
energy than they did when the LIHEAP program was initiated. The
Committee believes that the program has evolved from a
temporary energy crisis assistance program into a broad income
supplement. The Committee anticipates that the committees of
jurisdiction will reexamine the structure and purpose of this
program in the near future.
community services block grant
The Committee recommends a rescission in this account of
$26,988,000. The original FY 1995 appropriation was
$472,920,000. The Committee bill would eliminate four small
categorical programs: demonstration partnerships ($7,977,000),
farmworker assistance ($3,084,000), rural housing ($2,927,000)
and homeless assistance ($13,000,000). The basic State block
grant program is not reduced; its funding level remains at
$391,500,000. The Committee is attempting to eliminate and
consolidate small special-purpose programs. Often, these
activities can be financed under a larger umbrella program. For
example, homeless activities can be financed by local community
action agencies under the basic block grant program. The
Committee notes that the President has proposed to eliminate
three of these programs in his FY 1996 budget; the only
exception is the homeless program.
children and families services programs
The Committee recommends a rescission of $25,900,000 in
this account to eliminate funding for a program authorized
under last year's Crime Bill, the Community Schools Youth
Services and Supervision Grant Program Act of 1994. These funds
are not scheduled to be obligated until late in the fiscal
year. There are many small grant programs such as this
authorized by the Crime Bill. Many seem to have worthy
objectives on their face; however, the Committee is concerned
that many of them overlap and duplicate already existing
programs, either at the Federal or State levels. In the current
fiscal climate, the taxpayers simply cannot afford to pay for
duplication and overlap.
payments to states for foster care and adoption assistance
The Committee has included bill language limiting awards to
each State for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance
administrative and training costs for FY 1995 to 110% of the
amounts awarded to States for such expenditures in FY 1994.
This action is consistent with the Committee's continued
concern over escalating administrative costs. Administrative
costs increased by 27% between 1991 and 1994. This action will
not reduce maintenance payments.
Administration on Aging
Aging Services Programs
The bill includes a rescission of $899,000 for this
account. The total FY 1995 appropriation for the account was
$877,223,000. The Committee recommends rescinding the increase
provided in the FY 1995 appropriations act for aging research,
training, and special projects. After the rescission,
$25,735,000 would remain for this activity. The Committee feels
that this is a somewhat lower-priority activity that should be
able to absorb this small reduction without any adverse
consequences to older Americans.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
EDUCATION REFORM
Goals 2000: Educate America Act: State and local grants
The Committee rescinds $142,000,000 for the State and local
systemic reform grant program authorized by title III of the
Goals 2000: Educate America Act. This leaves $229,870,000 for
the program this year; $92,400,000 was provided in 1994. This
program supports State and local efforts to engage in systemic
education reform. The Committee believes that this program
should not be expanded as rapidly in a time of fiscal
constraint. The program will still more than double between
Fiscal Year 1994 and Fiscal Year 1995.
Goals 2000: Educate America Act: national programs
The Committee rescinds $21,530,000 for the national
programs authorized by titles II and III of the Goals 2000:
Educate America Act. This eliminates funding for this program;
$4,600,000 was provided in 1994. This program supports
assessments, development of standards, including ``opportunity-
to-learn'' standards, research, development, and technical
assistance. The Committee believes these activities should be
funded through the Department's general authorities including
educational research, statistics, and assessment, and the Fund
for the Improvement of Education.
Goals 2000: Educate America Act: parental assistance
The Committee rescinds $10,000,000 for the parental
assistance program authorized by title IV of the Goals 2000:
Educate America Act. This eliminates funding for this program,
which was not funded in 1994 nor requested by the President in
the 1995 budget, and was not included in the House bill. This
program supports resource centers to provide parents with
training, information, and support for better understanding of
their children's educational needs and how to help them achieve
high standards. At a time of fiscal constraint, these non-
direct education activities must be lower priorities. They are
activities that are best supported at the local level or by
other, broader authorities in the Department of Education.
School-to-work opportunities: State grants and local partnerships
The Committee rescinds $3,125,000 for titles II and III of
the School-to-Work Opportunities Act. This leaves $112,500,000
for the program this year; $45,000,000 was provided in 1994. A
similar amount is provided to the Department of Labor, which
jointly administers the program with the Department of
Education. Funds support development grants to States to plan
and implement State and local school-to-work systems to ease
the transition from school to work. The Committee's action
allows for a substantial expansion in the program in FY 1995.
School-to-work opportunities: national programs
The Committee rescinds $9,375,000 for national programs
authorized by titles II, III and IV of the School-to-Work
Opportunities Act. This eliminates funding for this program;
$5,000,000 was provided in 1994. The Committee believes these
activities should be conducted under the Department's broader
authorities for educational research, statistics, and
assessment, and should not be separately funded.
education for the disadvantaged
Grants to local educational agencies
The Committee rescinds $105,000,000 for grants to local
educational agencies under title I of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). This leaves
$6,593,356,000 for the program this year. These grants support
supplementary education and related services designed to
increase the attainment of educationally disadvantaged
children. The national assessment of the title I program found
that some participants did not achieve meaningful improvement
for their relative standing in fourth grade math and reading
programs, nor in eighth grade math programs, and did not
improve on standardized tests more than nonparticipants from
similar backgrounds. The rescission eliminates one-third of the
1995 increase otherwise available.
Evaluation
The Committee rescinds $8,270,000 for evaluation activities
related to programs authorized by title I of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965. This eliminates funding for
this program; $7,987,000 was provided in 1994. The Committee
believes these activities should be conducted under the
Department's broader authority for educational research,
statistics, and assessment, or under the Fund for the
Improvement of Education, and should not be funded separately.
impact aid
Impact aid: payments for Federal property (section 8002)
The Committee rescinds $16,293,000 for the impact aid
program of payments for Federal property authorized under
section 8002 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965. This eliminates funding for this program; $16,293,000 was
provided in 1994. These payments are made to local educational
agencies without regard to the presence of Federally connected
children. The Committee believes that payments related to such
children demand a higher priority. The President's budget
requests no funds for 1996; the Committee would terminate the
program in 1995.
school improvement programs
Eisenhower professional development State grants
The Committee rescinds $60,000,000 for the Eisenhower
professional development State grants program authorized under
title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
This leaves $260,298,000 for the program this year;
$250,998,000 was provided in 1994. These funds support State
grants for the professional development activities to address
teacher training needs in all of the core academic subject
areas. The Committee believes that this program should not be
expanded any faster in a time of fiscal constraint.
Safe and drug-free schools and communities
The Committee rescinds $481,962,000 for the safe and drug-
free schools and communities programs authorized under title IV
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. This
eliminates funding for these programs; $471,567,000 was
provided in 1994. The program funds activities related to safe
schools and alcohol and drug abuse education programs at the
national, State, and local levels. The Committee believes that
State and local activities should be carried out under other
authorities, such as the substance abuse block grant ($1.2
billion), the preventive health block grant ($158 million),
programs under the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention ($239
million), and the revised crime bill. In addition, national
activities should be conducted under the Department's broader
authority for educational research, statistics, and assessment.
Education infrastructure
The Committee rescinds $100,000,000 for the education
infrastructure program authorized under title XII of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. This eliminates
funding for the program; no funds were provided in 1994. This
program is newly authorized and has not been funded before. The
program supports grants for school facilities at the elementary
and secondary levels. The Committee action supports the
President's rescission request for this program; the House
provided no funding in its bill.
Inexpensive book distribution (Reading Is Fundamental)
For the inexpensive book distribution program authorized
under title X, part E, of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 and which is operated under contract by
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), the Committee rescinds
$5,300,000. This leaves $5,000,000 for this program;
$10,300,000 was provided in 1994. The Committee believes that
this program is both worthy and highly visible, but thinks that
it could easily be funded through private foundations or other
non-Federal sources.
Arts in education
For the arts in education program authorized under title X,
part D, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,
the Committee rescinds $6,000,000. This leaves $6,000,000 for
this program; $8,944,000 was provided in 1994. The Committee
believes that these model and demonstration programs should be
funded under more general authorities for such activities that
are available to the Department and elsewhere.
Instruction in civics, government, and the law (law related education)
For the program of instruction in civics, government, and
the law authorized under title X, section 10602 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (formerly the
law-related education program), the Committee rescinds
$5,899,000. This eliminates funding for this program;
$5,952,000 was provided in 1994. While the objective of making
students aware of the components of American Government is
commendable, a number of grantees have repeatedly received
awards. These established programs should be able to be
continued without additional Federal assistance. The Committee
action supports the President's 1995 rescission request for
this program.
Education for homeless children and youth
For the education of homeless children and youth program,
authorized by section 722 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless
Assistance Act, the Committee rescinds $28,811,000. This
eliminates funding for this program; $25,470,000 was provided
in 1994. These funds support a variety of State and local
planning, coordination and training programs as well as
services for homeless children and youth. The Committee
believes these activities constitute advocacy within State
planning and budgeting processes, which is not a Federal
responsibility, and direct services can be provided under
programs such as title I and Head Start.
Dropout prevention demonstrations
The Committee rescinds $28,000,000 for the dropout
prevention demonstrations program authorized under title V,
part C, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
This would eliminate funding for this program; $37,730,000 was
provided in 1994. This program provides discretionary grants to
demonstrate successful techniques to reduce the number of
children who do not complete their elementary and secondary
education. The Committee believes the objectives of this
program have been achieved and supports the President's 1995
rescission request for this program; the House provided no
funding in its 1995 bill.
Ellender fellowships
The Committee rescinds $4,185,000 for the Allen J. Ellender
fellowship program authorized by title X, part G, of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. This would
eliminate funding for this program; $4,223,000 was provided in
1994. This program supports the Close-Up Foundation of
Washington, D.C., to carry out its program to increase the
understanding of the Federal Government by providing
fellowships to disadvantaged secondary school students, and
their teachers, economically disadvantaged older Americans, and
recent immigrants. The Administration has indicated that there
is no continuing Federal role for this program, having found
several organizations performing the same activities without
Federal assistance. The Committee supports the President's 1995
rescission request for this program.
Education for Native Hawaiians
The Committee rescinds $12,000,000 for the education of
Native Hawaiians authorized by title IX, part B, of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. This eliminates
funding for this program; $8,224,000 was provided in 1994. A
number of programs limited to Native Hawaiians are supported
with these funds, including a model curriculum project, family-
based education centers, postsecondary education fellowships,
gifted and talented education projects, and special education
projects for disabled pupils. To the extent that Native
Hawaiians meet the eligibility criteria that are applied to all
citizens, they are already eligible to participate in the
Department's regular programs; in addition, Native Hawaiians
are counted in the allocation formulas for such programs. The
President proposed no funds for this program in 1995 and 1996;
the Committee's action would eliminate the program in 1995.
Training in early childhood education and violence counseling
The Committee rescinds $13,875,000 for training in early
childhood education and violence counseling authorized under
section 596 of the Higher Education Act. This eliminates
funding for this program; $14,000,000 was provided in 1994.
This program supports the training of individuals for careers
in early childhood development and for careers in counseling
young children affected by violence and the adults who work
with them. The Committee does not believe that Federal funds
should support a program with such a narrow focus, and suggests
that States could fund these activities under the revised crime
bill if they should choose to do so. The Administration
proposes to make 1996 the final year for funding this program;
the Committee would terminate it now.
Family and community endeavor schools
The Committee rescinds $11,100,000 for the family and
community endeavor schools authorized under section 30402 of
the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and
funded from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund established
by title XXXI of that Act. This eliminates funding for this
program; no funds were provided in 1994. This program supports
programs in high-poverty and high-crime areas to improve the
academic and social development of at-risk students.
bilingual and immigrant education
Bilingual education; transitional services
The Committee rescinds $38,500,000 for bilingual education
programs authorized under title VII of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965. This action terminates four
small programs funded at $50,000,000 in 1995: mathematics and
science training, peer-to-peer student learning of language,
family English literacy, and the special population program.
The remaining $11,500,000 from these programs are to be used
for transitional services under section 7021 of the Act as in
effect prior to Oct. 20, 1994. The Committee's action supports
teaching English as a second language, but eliminates
multicultural components and programs that teach in a native
language first. Teacher training and other staff development
can be accomplished under other, more general authorities.
Special Institutions for Persons With Disabilities
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
The Committee rescinds $799,000 for the National Technical
Institute for the Deaf. This leaves $42,492,000 for the program
in 1995; $41,836,000 was provided in 1994. The Committee action
eliminates approximately half of the increase initially
provided for 1995.
Gallaudet University
The Committee rescinds $1,298,000 for Gallaudet University.
This leaves $78,732,000 in funds provided for 1995; $78,435,000
was provided in 1994. The Committee action eliminates
approximately half of the increase initially provided for 1995.
vocational and adult education
Community-based organizations
The Committee rescinds $9,479,000 for community-based
organizations authorized by the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and
Applied Technology Education Act. This eliminates funding for
this program; $11,785,000 was provided in 1994. This program
supports collaboration among community-based organizations,
public agencies, and businesses to improve vocational education
services to disadvantaged youth. Both the President and the
Committee believe that this program duplicates activities under
basic State grants. The Committee supports the President's 1995
rescission request for this program.
Consumer and homemaking education
The Committee rescinds $34,409,000 for consumer and
homemaking education authorized under the Carl D. Perkins
Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act. This
eliminates funding for this program; $34,720,000 was provided
in 1994. This program provides formula grants to the States for
instruction in the areas of food and nutrition, consumer
education, family living and parenthood education, child
development and guidance, housing, home management, and
clothing and textiles. Both the President and the Committee
believe that this program duplicates activities under basic
State grants. The Committee supports the President's 1995
rescission request for this program.
Tech-prep education
The Committee rescinds $108,000,000 for the tech-prep
education program authorized under the Carl D. Perkins
Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act. This
eliminates funding for this program; $104,123,000 was provided
in 1994 to support planning and demonstration grants. The
Committee believes that this program duplicates other programs
including the school-to-work program, and thinks that technical
colleges, the primary beneficiary under this program, should
support tech-prep program outreach and coordination from their
own funds. In addition, the President has proposed
consolidating this program into a block grant.
National programs for vocational education
The Committee rescinds $34,535,000 for national programs
authorized under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied
Technology Education Act. This eliminates funding for these
programs; $38,077,000 was provided in 1994. This authority
supports research, demonstration programs, the National
Occupational Information Coordinating Committee, and a data
system for vocational education. These national activities
should be conducted under the Department's broader authorities
for educational research, statistics, and assessment.
National Institute for Literacy
The Committee rescinds $4,869,000 for the National
Institute for Literacy authorized under section 384(c) of the
Adult Education Act. This eliminates funding for this program;
$4,909,000 was provided in 1994. The Institute supports
research and development projects, tracks progress made toward
national literacy goals, supports research fellowships,
disseminates information through a national clearinghouse, and
coordinates literacy information data from national and State
sources. The Committee believes that these national activities
should be conducted under the Department's broader authority
for educational research, statistics, and assessment, and the
Fund for Improvement of Education. In addition, the President
has proposed consolidating this program into a block grant in
1996; the Committee would terminate it in 1995.
State literacy resource centers
The Committee rescinds $7,787,000 for State literacy
resource centers authorized under the Adult Education Act. This
eliminates funding for this program; $7,857,000 was provided in
1994. This program allocates funds to States or groups of
States to establish a network of State resource centers to
stimulate the coordination of services and enhance the capacity
of State and local organizations to provide services. The
program provides little, if any, direct literacy training. The
Committee believes that these national activities should be
conducted under the Department's broader authority for
educational research, statistics, and assessment, and the Fund
for Improvement of Education, as well as professional
development programs. In addition, the President has proposed
consolidating this program into a block grant in 1996; the
Committee would terminate it in 1995.
Workplace literacy partnerships
The Committee rescinds $18,736,000 for workplace literacy
partnerships authorized under the Adult Education Act. This
eliminates funding for this program; $18,906,000 was provided
in 1994. This program provides discretionary demonstration
grants for workplace-related literacy training and supportive
services. The Committee believes that these national activities
should be conducted under the Department's broader authority
for educational research, statistics, and assessment, and the
Fund for Improvement of Education. In addition, the President
has proposed consolidating this program into a block grant in
1996; the Committee would terminate it in 1995.
Literacy training for homeless adults
The Committee rescinds $9,498,000 for literacy training for
homeless adults authorized under section 702 of the Stewart B.
McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. This eliminates funding for
this program; $9,584,000 was provided in 1994. This program
authorizes State grants for programs of literacy training and
basic skills remediation for homeless persons. The Committee
believes these activities can be funded under basic State
grants of both the Perkins Act and the Adult Education Act. The
provision of multiple funding streams inhibits the setting of
priorities and makes coordination among similar programs
difficult. In addition, the President has proposed
consolidating this program into a block grant in 1996; the
Committee would terminate it in 1995.
Literacy programs for prisoners
The Committee rescinds $5,100,000 for literacy programs for
prisoners authorized under title VI of the National Literacy
Act. This eliminates funding for this program; $5,100,000 was
provided in 1994. This program assists persons incarcerated in
prison, jail, or detention centers through functional literacy
and life skills training programs. The Committee believes this
program can be funded under basic State grants of both the
Perkins Act and the Adult Education Act, as well as through
State grants under the revised crime bill. The provision of
multiple funding streams inhibits the setting of priorities and
makes coordination among similar programs difficult. In
addition, the President has proposed consolidating this program
into a block grant in 1996; the Committee would terminate it in
1995.
student financial assistance
State student incentive grants
The Committee rescinds $63,375,000 for the State Student
Incentive Grants program authorized under title IV, part A,
subpart 4, of the Higher Education Act, thereby terminating the
program. The 1995 budget request proposed to terminate this
program based on the recommendations of the National
Performance Review which indicated that the program had
accomplished its purpose. The 1996 budget proposes to phase out
SSIGs over two years. The SSIG program was established in 1972
to encourage and expand State scholarship assistance to
postsecondary students with substantial financial need. At that
time, only 26 states provided such need-based grants. Today,
all 50 States and the District of Columbia provide such
assistance. In addition, 46 states over-match the SSIG
requirement, 42 states award need-based aid in addition to
SSIG, and 33 states award non-need-based aid. SSIG now accounts
for only 2.5% of grants awarded by states.
State postsecondary review entities (SPRE)
The Committee rescinds $20,000,000 for State Postsecondary
Review Entities (SPREs) authorized under title IV, part H,
subpart 1, of the Higher Education Act, thereby terminating the
program. This program reimburses States for activities that
supplement existing institutional licensing and review
functions conducted by States as part of the process of
establishing the eligibility of postsecondary institutions to
participate in federal student aid programs. The Committee
believes that the program is not well focused on the
institutional sectors most in need of oversight and threatens
to involve top-tier 4-year institutions in burdensome and
unnecessary review activities prescribed by the 15 statutory
review standards. Department projections regarding the
anticipated number of schools subject to review have fluctuated
widely. Certain of these estimates have suggested that as many
as one-quarter to one-half of all postsecondary institutions
might be ``triggered'' into the burdensome SPRE review process.
Appropriations are available for a 2-year period; the
Department anticipates obligating only $6 million of the 1995
funds by the end of the fiscal year. Termination of this
program does not affect Departmental review and certification
activities or independent accreditation requirements.
higher education
Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native culture and arts development
The Committee rescinds $1,000,000 for the Native Hawaiian
and Alaska Native culture and arts study and instruction
development program authorized under title XV, part B, of P.L.
99-498, thereby terminating the program. The budget request
recommends terminating this new program in 1996. The program
provides for the study and instruction in Native Hawaiian or
Alaska Native art and culture, functions which the Committee
believes are the responsibility of the respective States and
which should not be extended to the federal government during
times of fiscal constraint. In addition, organizations may
already receive funds for the purposes of this program under
the National Endowment for the Arts or the National Endowment
for Humanities.
Eisenhower leadership program
The Committee rescinds $4,000,000 for the Eisenhower
leadership program authorized by title X, part D, of the Higher
Education Act, thereby terminating the program consistent with
the budget request. The National Performance Review indicated
that this program is poorly focused, does not perform a federal
responsibility, and duplicates activities already included in
many postsecondary curricula. The program provides funding to
schools to stimulate development of leadership skills among
college students and to recruit and educate outstanding
students for leadership roles in a variety of fields.
Law school clinical experience
The Committee rescinds $14,920,000 for the Law School
Clinical Experience program authorized under title IX, part G
of the Higher Education Act, thereby terminating the program
consistent with the budget request and the National Performance
Review which indicated that this program is not a federal
responsibility and has largely served its purpose. The
Committee notes that the American Bar Association, the law
school accrediting agency, recommends clinical experience
programs for accreditation. This program authorizes grants to
accredited law schools to support programs that provide
clinical experience to law students, either through actual
legal work or simulations.
Urban community service
The Committee rescinds $13,000,000 for the Urban Community
Service program authorized under title XI, part A, of the
Higher Education Act, thereby terminating the program. The
budget recommends termination of the program in 1996. This
program provides grants to urban universities and consortia for
such institutions to encourage community involvement in social
and economic problems of local urban areas including work force
preparation, poverty, health care, problems of the elderly and
families and children, environment, economic development and
crime. The Committee believes these activities are not proper
functions of the Department of Education and should be more
appropriately addressed through other, more focused, federal,
state, local and private programs.
Student financial database and information line
The Committee rescinds $496,000 for the student financial
aid database authorized under title IV, part A, chapter 5, of
the Higher Education Act, thereby terminating the second year
of the design and requirements analysis contract initiated in
1994. The budget proposes to terminate the program in 1996
following completion of the design contract. This program
authorizes a contract to establish and maintain a computerized
database of all public and private financial assistance
programs to be accessible to schools and libraries through
modems or toll-free telephone lines. The Committee notes that
private sector publishers already provide a great deal of
information on colleges and financial assistance, and this
activity represents a relatively low priority during a period
of budgetary constraint.
Federal TRIO programs
The Committee rescinds $11,200,000 for the Federal TRIO
programs authorized under title IV, part A, subpart 2, chapter
1, of the Higher Education Act, thereby retaining three-fourths
of the increase in funding provided in 1995. These funds
support six different programs--Talent Search, Upward Bound,
Student Support Services, Ronald E. McNair post-baccalaureate
achievement, Educational Opportunity Centers, and staff
development activities. The Congress has provided funding to
evaluate these programs, and the initial interim report
suggests the Student Services program duplicates other services
available to the same student population, does not provide
discernibly different outcomes for participating students, and
does not require programs to set adequate achievement goals.
The Committee notes the considerable increase of funds for TRIO
programs in previous years.
National early intervention scholarships and partnerships
The Committee rescinds $3,108,000 for early intervention
scholarships and partnerships authorized by title IV, part A,
subpart 2, chapter 2, of the Higher Education Act, thereby
terminating the program consistent with the budget request.
This program supports State efforts to provide scholarships to
low-income students who attain a high school diploma or the
equivalent and additional counseling, mentoring, academic
support, outreach, support services to at-risk precollege
students, and information regarding college financing options
to students and their parents. The budget request indicates
that this program duplicates services available under the TRIO
programs.
Byrd honors scholarships
The Committee rescinds $9,823,000 for the Robert C. Byrd
honors scholarship program authorized under title IV, part A,
subpart 6, of the Higher Education Act, thereby eliminating the
1995 increase. Congress provided $19,294,000 for the program in
1994. This program provides non-need-based scholarships of
$1,500 annually for up to 4 years of study at institutions of
higher education. The Committee notes that the Department of
Education will make available $36 billion in student financial
assistance this year. The Committee believes that need-based
financial aid is a relatively higher priority and that non-
need-based assistance is the proper responsibility of States
and private organizations during periods of fiscal constraint.
The Committee's action will not affect the over 19,000
continuing Byrd scholarships.
National science scholars
The Committee rescinds $4,424,000 for National Science
Scholars authorized under title VI, part A, of the Excellence
in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Act of 1990
thereby terminating the program. The budget requests no funding
for the program in 1996 consistent with the reinventing
Government proposals. Under this program, graduating public or
private high school seniors who have demonstrated academic
achievement in the physical, life, or computer sciences,
mathematics, or engineering receive scholarship assistance to
meet their higher education expenses. The Committee notes that
the federal government provides $36 billion in annual student
financial assistance which is available to students wishing to
pursue science related education. This small categorical
program is a relatively low priority, is costly to administer,
and the authorization was repealed in P.L. 103-382, the
Improving America's Schools Act.
National Academy of Science, Space, and Technology
The Committee rescinds $2,000,000 for the National Academy
of Science, Space, and Technology, previously authorized under
title VI, part C, of the Excellence in Mathematics, Science,
and Engineering Education Act of 1990, but repealed by the
Improving America's Schools Act of 1994. This action terminates
funding for this new program consistent with the budget
proposal and the recommendations of the National Performance
Review. The federal government provides $36 billion in annual
student assistance which is available to individuals pursuing
science-related education. This small categorical program is
particularly difficult and costly to administer, and the
Committee does not believe it is a relatively high enough
priority to merit continued funding.
Douglas teacher scholarships
The Committee rescinds $14,300,000 for the Paul Douglas
teacher scholarships program authorized under title V, part C,
subpart 1, of the Higher Education Act, thereby terminating all
remaining 1995 funding for this program. The budget requests
termination of the program in 1996 consistent with the
reinventing Government report which determined that Douglas
scholarships duplicate the purposes of the Eisenhower
Professional Development program. The federal government will
provide $36 billion in student financial assistance in 1995
which is available to individuals pursuing teaching careers.
The program provides scholarships to outstanding high school
graduates who demonstrate an interest in teaching at the
preschool, elementary, or secondary levels.
Olympic scholarships
The Committee rescinds $1,000,000 for the new program of
Olympic scholarships authorized under title XV, part E, of P.L.
102-325, thereby terminating the program consistent with the
budget request. This program provides funding to prospective
Olympians attending one of four schools. Federal student
financial assistance in the amount of $36 billion is available
to students in 1995, including those pursuing Olympic
competition.
Teacher corps
The Committee rescinds $1,875,000 for the Teacher Corps
program authorized by title V, part C, subpart 3, of the Higher
Education Act, thereby terminating the program consistent with
the budget request. This program provides grants to States to
award 3-year scholarships to students to meet the costs of
teacher preparation programs. The Committee notes that the
program duplicates the Douglas scholarships and the Eisenhower
Professional Development program. In addition, it is
administratively complex, the application process is burdensome
to States, and the repayment provisions require constant
monitoring that consume substantial departmental resources. The
federal government provides $36 billion in 1995 student
financial assistance which is available to students pursuing
teacher training.
Faculty development fellowships
The Committee rescinds $3,500,000 for faculty development
fellowships authorized under title IX, part E, of the Higher
Education Act, thereby terminating all remaining 1995 funding
for this program. This program provides approximately 450
fellowships to minority undergraduate students seeking faculty
positions and minority faculty seeking doctorates. The federal
government provides $36 billion in student financial assistance
which is available to minority individuals seeking
undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and which is
sufficient to accomplish the purposes of this program.
Harris fellowships
The Committee rescinds $10,100,000 for the Harris Graduate
Fellowship program authorized under title IX, part B, of the
Higher Education Act, thereby terminating all remaining funding
for the program. The budget proposes termination of the program
in 1996 consistent with the reinventing Government proposals
which found that it duplicated the Graduate Assistance in Areas
of National Need (GAANN) program. This program authorizes
fellowships to assist women and minorities who are
underrepresented in graduate and professional programs to
undertake graduate and professional study, with half of the
annual appropriation supporting awards for master's and
professional students and half for awards for doctoral study.
The federal government provides $36 billion in student
financial assistance in 1995, of which $8.8 billion will
support graduate- and doctoral-level students.
Javits fellowships
The Committee rescinds $7,500,000 for Jacob K. Javits
fellowships authorized under title IX, part C, of the Higher
Education Act, thereby terminating all remaining funding for
this program. The budget proposes to terminate the program in
1996 consistent with the reinventing Government proposals. The
program provides fellowships to students for graduate study in
the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The federal
government has provided $36 billion in student financial
assistance in 1995 which is available to students seeking
graduate study in the arts, humanities and the social sciences
and of which $8.8 billion is available for graduate-level
study.
Howard University
Academic program
The Committee rescinds $1,800,000 for the academic program
at Howard University, thereby terminating half of the
appropriated increase for 1995 consistent with the bill-wide
policy regarding federally-supported institutions. Under a
Federal charter, Howard University provides undergraduate
liberal arts, professional instruction and graduate
professional programs.
Construction
The Committee rescinds $2,500,000 for construction at
Howard University, thereby terminating the remaining 1995
funding for the program. The initial 1995 appropriation was
$5,000,000; no funds were provided in 1994. The budget requests
no funds for construction in 1996. The Committee believes that
the responsibility for capital activity to maintain and expand
physical plant at all institutions is the responsibility of the
institutions themselves, including Howard University.
college housing and academic facilities loans programs
The Committee rescinds $490,000 for the college housing and
academic facilities loan program authorized under title VII,
part C, of the Higher Education Act and section 505(c) of the
Federal Credit Reform Act. This program supports a loan program
for postsecondary education facilities.
education research, statistics, and improvement
International education exchange
The Committee rescinds $3,000,000 for the international
education exchange program authorized under title VI of Goals
2000: Educate America Act. This eliminates funding for this
program; no funds were provided in 1994. This program supports
the development of curricula and training programs for
educators in eligible countries. The Committee believes that
this program duplicates existing programs at the Agency for
International Development and elsewhere, making Federal support
for this program inappropriate.
Telecommunications demonstration project for mathematics
The Committee rescinds $2,250,000 for the
telecommunications demonstration project for mathematics
authorized under title III, part D, of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965. This eliminates funding for
this program; no funds were provided in 1994. This is a
national demonstration project to train teachers to prepare
students to achieve State content standards in mathematics. The
President requested no funds for this program in 1995, and no
funds were provided by the House; the Committee action
eliminates funding for this program.
Javits gifted and talented students education
The Committee rescinds $4,600,000 for the Jacob K. Javits
Gifted and Talented Students Education Act authorized under
title X, part B, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965. This eliminates the remaining 1995 funding for this
program. The initial 1995 appropriation was $9,521,000;
$9,607,000 was provided in 1994. This program assists State and
local education agencies, higher education institutions, and
other agencies for research, demonstration, training, and other
activities to identify and meet the educational needs of gifted
and talented students. The Committee believes that these
activities should be conducted under the Department's broader
authorities for educational research, statistics and
assessment, the Fund for Improvement of Education and others.
The Committee would eliminate this program in 1995.
Star schools; Fund for the Improvement of Education
The Committee rescinds $10,000,000 for the star schools
program authorized under title III, part B, of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965. This leaves $20,000,000
available in 1995 funds, which the Committee transfers to the
Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) authorized under
title X, part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965. This action eliminates 1995 funding for the star
schools program; $25,944,000 was provided in 1995. The transfer
of funds to FIE increases the 1995 funding level from
$36,750,000 to $56,750,000; $33,379,000 was provided in 1994
for the FIE. The star schools program supports the development
of statewide or multi-State telecommunications partnerships for
activities such as increasing the availability of courses in
mathematics, science, and foreign languages, serving
educationally disadvantaged students, and training teachers in
the use of telecommunications equipment. The Committee believes
that these activities should be conducted under the
Department's broader authority for educational research,
statistics, and assessment, and FIE. The Committee would
eliminate the star schools program in 1995.
National diffusion network
The Committee rescinds $2,700,000 for the national
diffusion network program authorized under title XIII, part B,
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The
initial 1995 appropriation was $14,480,000. The Committee
action eliminates the remaining 1995 funds for this program;
$14,582,000 was provided in 1994. The purpose of this network
is to make use of successful investments in research,
development, and demonstration programs in schools and
districts outside of the districts where these programs were
initially developed. The Committee believes that these
activities should be conducted under the Department's broader
authorities for educational research, statistics, and
assessment, and under the Fund for the Improvement of
Education.
Ready to learn television
The Committee rescinds $2,700,000 for the ready to learn
television program authorized under title III, part C, of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The initial
1995 funding for this program was $7,000,000. The Committee
action eliminates all remaining 1995 funds for this program; no
funds were provided in 1994. This program helps to develop and
distribute educational and instructional video programming for
preschool and elementary school children and their parents. The
Committee believes that these activities should be conducted
under the Department's broader authority for educational
research, statistics, and assessment, and the Fund for
Improvement of Education.
Technology for education
The Committee rescinds $30,000,000 for the technology for
education programs authorized under title III, part A, of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The initial
1995 funding for this program was $40,000,000. The Committee
actions eliminates all remaining 1995 funds for this program;
no funds were provided in 1994. This program supports the
demonstration and development of technology applications in
elementary and secondary schools, professional development in
educational technology, and technology-related services in
public libraries and literacy programs. The Committee believes
that these activities should be conducted under the
Department's broader authorities for educational research,
statistics, and assessment, and the Fund for Improvement of
Education.
libraries
Public library construction
The Committee rescinds $15,300,000 for public library
construction authorized under title II of the Library Services
and Construction Act. This eliminates all remaining funds from
the initial 1995 appropriation of $17,792,000; $17,792,000 was
provided in 1994 as well. These activities assist public
library construction programs, especially those that increase
access to the disabled, increase energy efficiency, or
accommodate new forms of library technology. Over $250 million
has been provided for this program over the last 10 years; the
Committee believes that there is no clear Federal
responsibility for these activities, and has difficulty
justifying them in the current fiscal environment. The
Committee would eliminate this program for the remainder of
1995.
Library literacy programs
The Committee rescinds $8,026,000 for library literacy
programs authorized under title VI of the Library Services and
Construction Act. This eliminates funding for this program;
$8,098,000 was provided in 1994. This program promotes literacy
training in the Nation's public libraries to combat illiteracy
among adults with funds used primarily for administrative staff
and library materials. The Committee believes that these
activities can be supported under the broader authority of
State grant programs under either the Adult Education Act or
the Library Services and Construction Act, and supports the
President's request for a rescission of 1995 funds for this
program.
Library education and training
The Committee rescinds $4,916,000 for library education and
training authorized under title II, part B, of the Higher
Education Act. This eliminates funding for this program;
$4,960,000 was provided in 1994. This program provides grants
to institutions of higher education and library professional
organizations for training or retraining of librarians. The
Committee believes that these activities can be supported under
the broader authority for student aid and other programs, and
supports the President's request for a rescission of 1995 funds
for this program.
Research and demonstrations
The Committee rescinds $6,500,000 for library research and
demonstrations authorized under title II, part B, of the Higher
Education Act. This eliminates funding for this program;
$2,802,000 was provided in 1994. This program supports projects
to improve libraries and information technologies, and to
disseminate the results of these projects. The Committee
believes that these activities should be conducted under the
Department's broader authority for educational research,
statistics, and assessment. The President requests no funding
for 1996; the Committee would eliminate this program in 1995.
RELATED AGENCIES
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Committee rescinds $47,000,000 of the $312,000,000
appropriated for FY 1996 in the FY 1994 appropriations act; the
Committee further rescinds $94,000,000 of the $315,000,000
appropriated for FY 1997 in the FY 1995 appropriations act.
The Committee notes that these rescissions were among the
most difficult decisions it faced in its efforts to downsize
federal programs under its jurisdiction. Nevertheless, in a
time of extreme fiscal constraint, the Committee believes that
public broadcasting must contribute to the government-wide
downsizing initiative. These rescissions represent a reduction
of 15% of federally appropriated funding for 1996 and 30% of
such funding for 1997. The Committee wishes to emphasize that
these reductions represent only 2.5% and 5.0% of total
estimated public broadcasting revenues for fiscal years 1996
and 1997, respectively. The Committee believes that while these
reductions will be difficult, they are reasonable in the
context of overall budgetary constraints and provide the public
broadcasting industry ample resources and time to reassess and
restructure its activities without undue disruption of
broadcast services.
The Committee encourages the CPB in allocating reduced
funding to consider the impact of reduced allocations on rural
stations, particularly radio and television stations that do
not have as great a donor base as urban stations and which
serve areas that have only limited cable alternatives.
Railroad Retirement Board
Vested Dual Benefits
The Committee rescinds $5,000,000 of the $261,000,000
previously appropriated for the phase-out costs for vested dual
benefits in the FY 1995 appropriations act. The Committee takes
this action on the advice of the Board in its communication of
February 13, 1995, in which it advises Congress that its latest
estimates project that $256,000,000 will be sufficient to pay
full vested dual benefits to all eligible annuitants in fiscal
year 1995.
Limitation on Administration
The Committee directs the Board to take immediate action to
reexamine the agency's field office operations and to develop a
restructuring proposal that reflects new technologies, agency
downsizing, budget cuts, and reengineering efforts. The new
structure should reflect modern service delivery techniques
rather than historical structures.
Limitation on the Office of Inspector General
In order to facilitate greater management improvements at
the RRB, the Committee encourages the Inspector General to
reallocate FY 1995 resources to emphasize internal management
audits and reviews to improve agency management systems. The
Inspector General should make appropriate recommendations to
the Board for program changes.
GENERAL PROVISION
Federal Direct Student Loan Program
The Committee bill rescinds $47,000,000 from funds
available under Section 458 of the Higher Education Act for
administration of the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program. The
Committee believes a reduction in available funds as
recommended will not adversely affect the administration of the
program and represents one-half of the amount authorized, but
not expended by the Department, for fiscal year 1994. The
Committee intends that the Department adjust anticipated
expenditures by eliminating expenditures for public relations,
advertising, and payment of administrative fees to institutions
of higher education.
The Committee is deeply concerned that expenditures of
funds for the administration of the Direct Loan Program to date
have exceeded the expenditures necessary to properly implement
the program.
CHAPTER VII
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
JOINT ITEMS
Joint Economic Committee
The Committee bill rescinds $460,000 of the funds provided
for the Joint Economic Committee for fiscal year 1995. This
rescission reflects a reduction of approximately 20% in the
funds currently available and is based upon testimony from the
Joint Economic Committee.
Joint Committee on Printing
The Committee bill rescinds $418,000 of the funds provided
for the Joint Committee on Printing for fiscal year 1995 and
transfers the remaining balances equally to the authorizing
committees of jurisdiction who have legislative oversight on
Federal printing matters, the Committee on House Oversight and
the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
The Committee has included a rescission of $650,000 in
funds made available to the Office of Technology Assessment in
Public Law 103-283. The rescission results from a hiring
freeze, an equipment moratorium and building lease savings. The
Committee believes that OTA should seriously consider locating
space in existing buildings which are owned by the government
before making any long term lease renewals.
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
Capitol Buildings and Grounds
capitol buildings
The Committee bill rescinds $2,500,000 from funds made
available to the Architect of the Capitol for energy efficient
lighting retrofitting in the Capitol complex. There was
$1,000,000 made available in Public Law 102-392, and $2,000,000
made available in Public Law 103-69 for this project. The
conference report, ``Making Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1994,
and for Other Purposes'' directed the Architect of the Capitol
to use the $3,000,000 for converting and maintaining property
and facilities at Fort Meade for long term storage needs. The
energy efficient lighting funds were not needed because Public
Law 103-211 (108 Stat. 40) gave the Architect of the Capitol
authority to utilize the services of energy services companies
to underwrite the cost of the retrofit program. Sufficient
funds remain in this account to construct a 2-3 million book
capacity remote storage facility.
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
Congressional Printing and Binding
The bill rescinds $3,000,000 of Congressional printing and
binding funds provided for fiscal year 1995. Congressional
printing volume has been lower than the levels projected by the
Government Printing Office for the past two years. This
rescission is based on the expectation that Congressional
printing volume for FY 1995 will approximate the average
printing volume of FY 1993 and FY 1991, the two most recent
first sessions of Congress. It should be noted that the funds
remaining for fiscal year 1995 will be over 17% greater than
actual Congressional printing expenditures in FY 1993, a
sufficient allowance for increases in wages and paper prices.
Office of Superintendent of Documents
The bill rescinds $600,000 in fiscal year 1995 funds
provided for the depository library program under the
Superintendent of Documents. This savings is based on the trend
in the volume of agency printing and the increased use of
electronic format.
BOTANIC GARDEN
The Committee bill rescinds $4 million from the funds made
available to the Botanic Garden in the fiscal year 1995
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act to begin an extensive
renovation program at the conservatory. These funds were made
available by transfer from funds previously made available
without fiscal year limitation under the heading ``Architect of
the Capitol''. In addition, in a related supplemental
appropriations bill, the Committee has returned, by transfer,
$3 million of the renovation funds to the Capitol Complex
Security Enhancement project. The renovation project design is
not complete, but even the preliminary estimate has grown by
33%. This excessive cost growth, coupled with the possibility
that the entire Botanic Garden program may undergo significant
change, raises serious questions of the efficacy of this
funding.
The Committee has been informed by the Architect of the
Capitol that the Botanic Garden is a good candidate for either
privatization or transfer to a more appropriate agency. The
Architect has been asked to develop a proposal that will
preserve the signal accomplishments and programs of the Botanic
Garden, but under a more suitable arrangement.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Salaries and Expenses
The Committee has included a rescission of $150,000 in
fiscal year 1995 funds made available for salaries and
expenses, Library of Congress. The Library has reported that a
new competitive personnel selection process has lengthened the
time it takes to hire staff and thus has generated salary
savings in several Library organizations funded from this
account.
Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
There is a rescission of $100,000 in fiscal year 1995 funds
made available for the National Library Service, the books for
the blind and physically handicapped program. These savings
result from a reduction in the number of plastic containers
necessary to meet the currently projected production quantity
of audio book cassettes.
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE
The Committee bill rescinds $8,867,000 of the fiscal year
1995 appropriation for the operations of the General Accounting
Office. The savings will be taken from salaries, benefits,
travel and miscellaneous expenses associated with staff
reductions related to the agency's downsizing program.
CHAPTER VIII
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
Transportation Planning, Research, and Development
The Committee recommends the rescission of $1,293,000 in
fiscal year 1995 funds for ``Transportation planning, research
and development''. This lowers the funding available for policy
studies and development of departmental accounting systems, and
reflects the existence of unobligated balances in the account.
Working Capital Fund
The Committee recommends lowering the fiscal year 1995
limitation for expenses covered by the working capital fund
from $93,000,000 to $85,000,000, and includes a general
provision
(sec. 801) to realize those savings. The Committee received
testimony that the Department of Transportation is ahead of
their staff reduction goal for the current fiscal year by
approximately 1,600 positions; therefore, a reduction in
administrative support costs budgeted in the working capital
fund appears justified.
COAST GUARD
Operating Expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $6,440,000 in
Coast Guard operating expenses from the fiscal year 1995
Department of Transportation and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act. The rescission includes the following items
and activities:
Amount
Reduce general detail................................... $-2,000,000
Reduce funding for excessive ship spares................ -1,000,000
Ammunition and small arms............................... -200,000
Reduce subsidy for Persian Gulf operations.............. -240,000
Reduce funds for military rotations..................... -3,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................... -6,440,000
General detail.--The Coast Guard's current fiscal year 1995
budget includes an estimated $178,372,000 for the so-called
``general detail'', which is an overhead account used for
training and replacement of military personnel due to
advancement and military rotation policies. The Coast Guard has
proposed a reduction in general detail in the fiscal year 1996
budget, based upon their updated review of current
requirements. The Committee believes that, given the large size
of the general detail budget, the Coast Guard downsizing
effort, and the proposed reduction in fiscal year 1996, a small
(1.1 percent) reduction in these overhead and administrative
costs can be accommodated without adverse impact on the
agency's operational missions. This recommendation brings the
1995 budget more into line with anticipated fiscal year 1996
levels.
Excessive ship spares.--The U.S. General Accounting Office
has recently documented evidence of waste and poor management
of the Coast Guard's spare parts inventories for ships and
vessels. Reflecting this finding, the Committee believes
efficiencies can be gained through stronger management, and
recommends a modest rescission of $1,000,000.
Ammunition and small arms.--The rescission of $200,000 for
ammunition and small arms reflects more recent budget data for
fiscal year 1995, which indicates the Coast Guard does not need
all of the funding originally appropriated for this activity.
Persian Gulf operational support.--The rescission of
$240,000 is similar to a recommendation passed by the House
last year, and reflects deletion of unobligated funding added
to the operating expense base without sufficient justification.
It is not clear why Coast Guard personnel are still required in
the Persian Gulf three years after completion of the Persian
Gulf War, and why such funding cannot be provided by the
Department of Defense under reimbursable agreement if the need
still exists.
Military rotations.--The rescission of $3,000,000 reduces
funds for military permanent change of station moves from
approximately $59,644,000 to $56,644,000. While this may result
in some personnel remaining in their current positions for
slightly longer periods of time, the Committee believes such a
small reduction will not cause undue hardship.
Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements
The Committee recommends a rescission of $42,569,000 in
unobligated balances from ``Acquisition, construction, and
improvements.'' A breakdown of the rescission by appropriation
year and project is as follows:
1991:
WLB service life extension program.................. -$2,700,000
HH-65 LTS-101 engine replacement.................... -500,000
Cockpit voice and flight data recorders............. -2,900,000
Station Burlington, Vermont......................... -361,000
Kodiak, Alaska fire station......................... -155,000
Marine safety information system.................... -1,655,000
1992:
Hurricane Andrew/Iniki supplemental................. -4,400,000
32 foot ports and waterways boats................... -1,783,000
1993:
Specific emitter identification system.............. -2,500,000
Vessel traffic service system 2000.................. -1,000,000
Systems to integrate and automate logistics......... -2,500,000
1994:
Support Ctr San Pedro, CA medical/dental building... -4,000,000
Vessel traffic service system 2000.................. -1,000,000
Aquadilla, PR rinse rack/fuel farm.................. -6,300,000
Training Ctr Cape May, NJ enlisted housing.......... -800,000
1995:
Support Center New York, NY ANT/ET shops............ -3,250,000
Stalwart class conversion (T-AGOS).................. -3,750,000
Survey and design, shore facilities................. -1,415,000
Polar icebreaker.................................... -1,600,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. -42,569,000
The facilities and projects recommended for rescission are
either on hold pending revalidation of their need by the Coast
Guard as a part of downsizing activities, are low priority
programs or have leftover funding, or have experienced
programmatic delays and the buildup of large unobligated
balances. Although some of these funds may need to be replaced
in future budgets as the programs work through their current
problems, these current funds can be made available for
rescission without significant impact.
Environmental Compliance and Restoration
The Committee recommends a rescission of $3,500,000 in
``Environmental compliance and restoration'' funds. This amount
represents approximately one-half of the unobligated carryover
balance in the program. The Committee generally supports this
program, but believes that in these fiscally austere times,
carryover balances should be minimized. The Coast Guard is
directed to allocate the reduction against training and
environmental awareness activities, and not against remediation
of individual sites.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
Facilities and Equipment
(airport and airway trust fund)
The Committee recommends a rescission of $69,825,000 in
unobligated balances for ``Facilities and equipment''. A
breakdown of the rescission by program and fiscal year is as
follows:
1991:
Establish airport surveillance radar................ -$2,375,000
Southern California TRACON.......................... -2,000,000
1993:
Tower replacement (Newburgh, NY).................... -850,000
Tower replacement (Islip, NY)....................... -1,500,000
Tower establishment (Pullman/Moscow, WA/ID)......... -3,500,000
Air route surveillance radar leapfrog............... -4,700,000
Long range radar-refurbish FPS-20 radars............ -1,400,000
1994:
Instrument landing systems.......................... -7,000,000
Terminal radars--DBRITE system...................... -2,000,000
Radio control equipment............................. -2,000,000
1995:
Advanced automation system (engineering)............ -35,000,000
System engineering and development spt.............. -5,000,000
Air traffic control tower/TRACON facilities
improvement....................................... -2,500,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. -69,825,000
These funds are available due to schedule slippages in the
various programs. The facilities and projects recommended for
rescission are either on hold pending revalidation of their
need, are low priority programs, have leftover funding, or have
experienced programmatic delays and the buildup of large
unobligated balances. Although some of these funds may need to
be replaced in future budgets as the programs work through
their current problems, these current funds can be made
available for rescission without significant impact.
Research, Engineering, and Development
(airport and airway trust fund)
The Committee recommends a rescission of $7,500,000 from
unobligated balances of the ``Research, engineering and
development'' appropriation. This represents one half of
unobligated balances. The administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration is accorded the discretion to allocate the
reduction, with the caveat that safety-related programs should
be exempt from any reduction.
FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
Limitation on General Operating Expenses
The Committee recommends a reduction of $42,500,000 in
general operating expenses available for administrative
expenses and research and development activities of the Federal
Highway Administration. After the reductions, the revised
fiscal year 1995 amount still represents an increase over
fiscal year 1994 by $14,235,000. The following table summarizes
the fiscal year 1994 and 1995 program levels and the
Committee's recommended reductions:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year Fiscal year Recommended
1994 1995 enacted rescission
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative
expenses............ $300,081,000 $307,183,000 -$3,000,000
Contract programs,
research and
technology:
Highway R&D......; 42,525,000 55,153,000 -6,000,000
ITS.............. 90,300,000 114,500,000 -24,500,000
Technology
development..... 12,000,000 13,000,000 -1,000,000
Long-term
pavement
performance..... 7,000,000 9,000,000 -2,000,000
Local rural
technical
assistance...... 500,000 3,105,000 -1,000,000
National Highway
Institute....... 4,500,000 4,500,000 ...............
Disadvantaged
business
enterprises..... 10,000,000 10,000,000 ...............
International
transportation.. 400,000 500,000 ...............
OJT/supportive
services........ ............... 5,000,000 -5,000,000
Rehabilitation of
TFHRC........... 1,250,000 3,000,000 ...............
Technical
assistance for
Russia.......... ............... 400,000 ...............
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal,
contract
programs...... 168,475,000 218,108,000 -39,500,000
Total, LGOE.. 468,556,000 525,341,000 -42,500,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative Expenses
Administrative expenses.--The Committee has reduced the
amounts available for administrative expenses by $3,000,000,
leaving a total of $304,183,000 available for administrative
expenses in fiscal year 1995. Reductions include $1,000,000 for
furniture and furnishings and $2,000,000 for computer system
support.
Contract Programs
Highway research and development.--The Committee recommends
a rescission of $6,000,000 for highway research and
development. After the rescission, $49,153,000 is available for
highway research and development, an increase of $6,628,000
over 1994 levels. Reductions shall be made in lower priority
programs, including not less than $2,000,000 from policy
research and $1,000,000 in non-safety related activities of
motor carrier research and development. In allocating the
reduction, activities related to safety research and
development should not be affected.
Intelligent transportation systems.--The Committee has
reduced the amounts made available in fiscal year 1995 for
intelligent transportation systems (ITS) by $24,500,000,
reflecting, in part, the unobligated balances for ITS programs
and activities. Federal funding for ITS has grown significantly
in recent years, from $4,000,000 in fiscal year 1990 before the
passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
of 1991 (ISTEA), to over $227,500,000 in fiscal year 1995.
Although supportive of the efforts of the ITS program, the
Committee is concerned that the growth of this program over the
last several years may be difficult to manage effectively, and
has, therefore, recommended a reduction of $24,500,000. In
addition to the amounts made available under the Limitation on
general operating expenses heading, $113,000,000 is available
through ISTEA for fiscal year 1995. That amount is not affected
by this rescission.
The Committee recognizes that the Administrator may need
flexibility in managing the Committee's reductions, and
therefore, directs the FHWA to report to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations within fifteen days of enactment
of this Act if the reductions in ITS activities deviate from
the Committee's recommendation by more than fifteen percent.
In distributing the reductions in ITS research and
development, lower priority activities, such as user-acceptance
research and user-related assessments and studies, should be
curtailed.
The Committee believes that the promotion of truck and bus
safety must be the primary purpose of the commercial vehicle
operations (CVO) portion of the ITS program. Inasmuch as
reductions are necessary in this activity, they shall be
directed in CVO institutional, outreach, and regulatory
activities.
The Committee recommends a rescission of $3,000,000 from
the automated highway system program.
Funds reduced for advanced technology applications should
not be from balances transferred to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration. Unobligated balances in the
research and development component are sufficient to provide
the ITS program office the flexibility needed to pursue
promising technologies that did not qualify for Advanced
Research Projects Agency funding.
Reductions in the program and systems support activities
shall be from lower priority programs, such as planned work on
institutional and legal issues and technology transfer
activities.
INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year Fiscal year Recommended
1994 1995 enacted rescission
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research and
development......... $28,000,000 $35,000,000 -$10,000,000
Operational tests.... 15,000,000 22,500,000 ...............
Commercial vehicle
operations.......... 10,000,000 10,700,000 -2,000,000
Automated highway
system.............. 10,000,000 10,000,000 -3,000,000
Advanced technology
applications........ 15,000,000 15,000,000 -7,500,000
Priority corridors... ............... 10,000,000 ...............
Deployment support... ............... ............... ...............
Program and systems
support............. 12,300,000 11,300,000 -2,000,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total, ITS..... 90,300,000 114,500,000 -24,500,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Technology development.--The Committee recommends a
rescission of $1,000,000. Reductions should be taken in lower-
priority programs including international market promotions,
international exhibits and seminars, and support-related
activities and not derived from highway safety or motor carrier
safety assistance program-related technology transfer
activities.
Long term pavement performance.--The Committee recommends a
rescission of $2,000,000 for long term pavement performance,
resulting in the same level as available in fiscal year 1994.
The budget justifications submitted during the fiscal year 1995
budget cycle did not support an increase of $2,000,000, or 25
percent, over last year.
Local rural technical assistance.--In fiscal year 1995,
$3,105,000, an increase of 520 percent over last year's level,
was provided despite little justification for such an increase
over the fiscal year 1994 levels. Accordingly, the Committee
recommends a modest rescission of $1,000,000.
On-the-job training/supportive services.--The Committee
recommends a rescission of $5,000,000. The states currently
have the authority to use resources from their highway
apportionments to accomplish the objectives of on-the-job
training/supportive services. For the first time in three
years, funds were provided in fiscal year 1995 for this
activity. The Committee urges the Federal Highway
Administration to encourage state highway departments to take
the necessary actions to achieve OJT/supportive services.
Federal-Aid Highways
(limitation on obligations)
(highway trust fund)
The Committee recommends that the obligation limitation for
the Federal-aid highways program be reduced by $70,140,000.
This overall reduction represents a reduction of $42,500,000 in
general operating expenses and $27,640,000 in the applied
research and development program. Over the past several years,
the Department has been unable to obligate funds for applied
research and technology programs. This reduction shall not
affect the Department's planned or ongoing applied research and
development program. These reductions will have no impact on
states' annual highway apportionments.
Ellis Island Bridge.--The Committee directs the Federal
Highway Administration to make available for other parkways and
park highways under the Federal Lands program the $15,000,000
set aside in Senate report 102-148 for the Ellis Island Bridge.
Emergency Relief Program
The Committee recommends the rescission of $351,000,000 in
the emergency relief program. A total of $1,350,000,000 was
provided in response to the Northridge earthquake. The
Department has informed the Committee that the reconstruction
activities have been completed ahead of schedule and under
budget. Accordingly, the Committee recommends that these
unneeded balances be rescinded.
FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION
Northeast Corridor Improvement Program
The Committee recommends a rescission of $7,768,000 from
the ``Northeast corridor improvement program.'' According to
Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration, these funds are
set aside for potential contractor claims for a station
renovation, and for grade crossing improvements which require
review and approval of the affected states. These funds are not
expected to be obligated during fiscal year 1995. If such funds
are needed in future years, the Committee will review proposals
at that time. This rescission should have no impact on the
program to electrify track between New Haven, Connecticut, and
Boston, on bridge modifications necessary to accommodate the
center island platform at the New Rochelle Station, New York,
or on the procurement of new high speed trainsets for northeast
corridor service.
FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
Transit Planning and Research
The Committee recommends a rescission of $8,800,000 for the
planning, research and training of the Federal Transit
Administration. The Administrator of the Federal Transit
Administration is accorded the discretion to allocate the
reduction, with the caveat that safety-related programs should
be exempt from any reduction.
Discretionary Grants
(limitation on obligations)
(highway trust fund)
A rescission of $131,651,000 is recommended for the Federal
Transit Administration's Section 3 discretionary grants
program. Of that amount, $76,950,000 is to be reduced from
balances available for construction of new starts and
$54,701,000 from balances for buses and bus facilities. These
amounts represent one-half of the balances that have been
available prior to fiscal year 1994. Delays in obligating these
funds may be a result of lags in the environmental and labor
protection processes or site acquisition, or may indicate a
lack of local financial support.
The Committee acknowledges that, in some cases, funds
proposed for rescission in the Federal Transit Administration
may have been obligated or expended. It is the Committee's
intent to correct these cases during conference committee
action on the bill.
Section 3 New Starts.--The Committee recommends that the
available balances be reduced by $76,950,000. This amount
represents 50 percent of the unobligated balances that have
been available for obligation prior to fiscal year 1994. The
Committee reduces, without prejudice, the following amounts:
FY 1991:
Cleveland Dual Hub.................................. -$2,230,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________
FY 1992:
Cleveland Dual Hub.................................. -1,000,000
Kansas City-South LRT............................... -465,000
San Diego-Mid Coast................................. -950,000
Los Angeles-San Diego CR (LOSSAN)................... -5,000,000
New Jersey-Hawthorne-Warwick........................ -17,100,000
New York-Staten Island-Midtown Ferry................ -500,000
San Jose-Gilroy CR.................................. -4,000,000
Seattle-Tacoma CR................................... -1,620,000
Vallejo-Ferry....................................... -880,000
Detroit LRT......................................... -5,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Subtotal, FY 1992................................. -36,515,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________
FY 1993:
San Francisco BART extension/Tasman corridor........ -9,120,000
Maine-Boston LRT.................................... -12,655,000
Orlando-OSCAR....................................... -875,000
Salt Lake City-South................................ -980,000
Cleveland Dual Hub.................................. -745,000
Milwaukee-East/West................................. -1,500,000
San Diego-Mid-Coast................................. -845,000
New Jersey-Hawthorne-Warwick........................ -2,235,000
Seattle-Tacoma...................................... -7,595,000
New Jersey-Lakewood-Matawan-Freehold................ -1,490,000
Miami DPM extensions................................ -165,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Subtotal, FY 1993................................. -38,205,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________
Total, New Starts................................. -76,950,000
Section 3 Bus and Bus Facilities.--The Committee recommends
that the available balances be reduced by $54,701,000. This
amounts represents 50 percent of the unobligated balances that
have been available for obligation prior to fiscal year 1994
(-$37,051,000), and the fiscal year 1995 amounts that were not
earmarked in the accompanying reports (-$17,650,000). The
Committee reduces, without prejudice, the following amounts:
FY 1990:
Madison, Wisconsin.................................. -$1,247,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
FY 1992:
Eureka Springs, Arkansas............................ -31,500
San Francisco med. parking garage, California....... -1,250,000
Eugene, Oregon...................................... -1,750,000
Dallas, Texas....................................... -3,750,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Subtotal FY 1992.................................. -6,781,500
========================================================
____________________________________________________
FY 1993:
Sacramento, California.............................. -2,790,000
Miami, Florida...................................... -1,460,000
Atlanta, Georgia.................................... -651,000
Des Moines, Iowa.................................... -5,692,000
Indiana............................................. -1,205,000
Maryland mass transit............................... -370,000
St. Louis, Missouri................................. -407,000
Rio Rancho, New Mexico.............................. -162,500
Eugene, Oregon...................................... -1,675,000
Erie, Pennsylvania.................................. -2,034,000
Robinson Town Center, Pennsylvania.................. -4,068,000
Corpus Christi, Texas............................... -125,000
Dallas, Texas....................................... -7,426,000
Chelan-Douglas, Washington.......................... -957,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Subtotal, FY 1993................................. -29,022,500
========================================================
____________________________________________________
FY 1995:
Unearmarked/Unallocated............................. -17,650,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________
Total, Bus and bus facilities..................... -54,701,000
GENERAL PROVISIONS
(including rescissions)
The Committee has included a general provision (sec. 801)
that rescinds $8,000,000 of the amounts made available in the
Department of Transportation and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 1995, for expenses of the working capital
fund. Since these funds are budgeted in many individual
appropriation accounts, a general provision has been used to
effectuate the limitation and realize the budgetary savings.
The actual limitation is provided under ``Office of the
secretary, Working capital fund''.
The Committee has included a general provision (sec. 802)
that reduces amounts made available department-wide in fiscal
year 1995 for Department of Transportation salaries and
expenses. During recent hearings, the Department acknowledged
that, as of January 1995, it was ahead of its scheduled staff
reductions to comply with the National Performance Review. In
light of this finding, the Committee has included a provision
which has the effect of rescinding $20,000,000 in funding for
personnel compensation and benefits. According to information
from the Department of Transportation, these positions have not
been filled; therefore, the Committee believes these funds can
be reduced without impact on department operations. The
Committee directs the Secretary of Transportation to notify the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not later than 15
days after enactment of this Act of how this reduction will be
allocated among modal administrations and offices.
CHAPTER IX
TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Deparmental Offices
salaries and expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $100,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1995 for Departmental
Management and Administration. This reduction should be applied
to the Office of Public Affairs.
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
acquisition, construction, improvements, and related expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $5,000,000
appropriated in fiscal year 1994 and a rescission of $6,000,000
from funds appropriated in fiscal year 1995 for construction of
a federal law enforcement training center at Davis-Monthan Air
Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. The rescission of 1994 funds
shall be taken from resources appropriated for the construction
of nine classrooms, administrative support, driving ranges,
student and other support facilities at the Tucson satellite
facility. The 1995 rescission shall be taken from resources
appropriated for a 150 room dormitory, a dining hall and
firearms ranges at the Tucson Center.
Financial Management Service
salaries and expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $160,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1995 for Agency Support.
This reduction should be applied to the offices of
Congressional and Public Affairs.
Bureau of the Public Debt
salaries and expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $1,500,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1994 for salaries and
expenses. This amount was identified in a December 8, 1994
letter to the Committee as a source for reprogramming funds
into the Financial Management Service appropriation.
Internal Revenue Service
information systems
The Committee recommends a rescission of $1,490,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1995 for the Rent,
Communications, and Utilities object class which were
identified in a November 22, 1994 letter to the Committee as a
source for reprogramming funds into the Departmental Offices
Account.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
White House Office
salaries and expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $171,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1995.
Federal Drug Control Programs
special forfeiture fund
The Committee recommends a rescission of $13,200,000 from
funds appropriated in 1995 to the Special Forfeiture Fund. The
Congress appropriated $41,900,000 in fiscal year 1995 for a
variety of drug control activities. Unexpected expenditures by
the Department of Justice Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement
(OCEDEF) Task Forces, however, will lower receipts to the
Special Forfeiture Fund below what had been anticipated by
$13,200,000. The Committee therefore rescinds the excess
$13,200,000 from amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1995.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
General Services Administration
Federal Buildings Fund
new construction
charlotte amalie, saint thomas, u.s. virgin islands, courthouse annex
The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,184,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1992 for the Charlotte
Amalie, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Courthouse Annex.
This project has been canceled.
bullhead city, arizona, federal aviation administration
The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,200,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1995 for an unauthorized
grant to the FAA for a runway protection zone at the airport in
Bullhead City, AZ.
nogales, arizona, border station
The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,000,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1993 for the Nogales,
Arizona Border Station. This project is unauthorized.
atlanta, Georgia, centers for disease control (mercer office building)
The Committee recommends a rescission of $40,000,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1993 for the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) ``Mercer'' site office building. In 1993,
Congress provided $26,000,000 to purchase a site on which to
construct a new office building for CDC and $15,000,000 to
begin construction of the office building. The Committee
believes it might be more cost effective for CDC to continue to
lease available commercial office space rather than build a new
building. This rescission applies only to the funds
appropriated for the office building and will neither
jeopardize nor affect ongoing construction activities of the
CDC laboratory.
sierra vista, arizona, u.s. magistrates office
The Committee recommends a rescission of $1,000,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1994 for the Sierra Vista,
U.S. Magistrates Office. This project is unauthorized.
newark, new jersey, parking facility
The Committee recommends a rescission of $9,000,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1993 for the parking
facility in Newark, New Jersey. This project is unauthorized.
hilo hawaii, university of hawaii
The Committee recommends a rescission of $12,000,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1995 for an unauthorized
grant to the University of Hawaii for consolidation of offices
on the University's campus.
wheeling, west virginia, federal building/courthouse
The Committee recommends a rescission of $35,861,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1994 for the Federal
Building/Courthouse in Wheeling, West Virginia. This project is
unauthorized.
seattle, washington, u.s. courthouse
The Committee recommends a rescission of $11,548,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1993 for the U.S.
Courthouse in Seattle, Washington. This project is
unauthorized.
repair and alterations
walla walla, washington, corps of engineers building
The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,800,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1995 for a repair and
alteration project for a Corps of Engineers building in Walla
Walla, Washington. This project is unauthorized.
washington, dc, central and west heating plants
Rescinds $5,000,000 of the $11,141,000 made available in
fiscal year 1994 for the repair and alteration of the Central
and West Heating plants in Washington, DC. This amount was
identified in a November 23, 1994 letter to the Committee as a
source for reprogramming funds within GSA.
washington, dc, general services administration headquarters
The Committee recommends a rescission of $13,000,000 from
funds appropriated in Public Law 102-27 for the General
Services Administration, Southeast Federal Center Headquarters.
operating expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,065,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1995 for General Management
and Administration.
Federal Election Commission
salaries and expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $2,792,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1995. This amount reflects
the differences between the amount identified as necessary to
modernize the FEC in fiscal year 1995 ($3,542,000) and the
amount the FEC has said it will actually spend on
computerization in fiscal year 1995 ($750,000).
Office of Personnel Management
salaries and expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $3,140,000 from
amounts appropriated in fiscal year 1995. The Congress
appropriated $3,000,000 in fiscal year 1995 to enhance OPM
training. In light of the Administration's proposal to transfer
OPM training to other agencies, these resources will no longer
be needed. The Committee has also rescinded $140,000 from OPM's
Office of International Affairs.
CHAPTER X
DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Veterans Health Administration
medical care
The Committee recommends a rescission of $50,000,000 from
the FY 1995 medical care appropriation. The reduction is to be
taken from the $771,000,000 earmarked for equipment and land
and structures, the availability of which was delayed until
August 1, 1995. The total for equipment and land and structures
is thus reduced by $50,000,000.
Departmental Administration
construction, major projects
The Committee recommends a rescission of $156,110,000 from
the FY 1995 construction, major projects appropriation of
$355,612,000. The reduction is to be taken from funds added
above the FY 1995 budget request for ambulatory care projects
at Columbia, Missouri; Gainesville, Florida; Hampton, Virginia;
San Juan, Puerto Rico; Orlando, Florida; and West Haven,
Connecticut. These projects were part of last year's universal
health care proposal. An increase of approximately $84,000,000
above the budget request for various construction projects will
remain after this rescission.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Housing Programs
National Homeownership Trust Demonstration Program
The Committee is recommending a rescission of $50,000,000
which was appropriated in FY 1995. The President proposes
terminating this new program in FY 1996. The action would
terminate the program in FY 1995.
Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing
The Committee is recommending a rescission of
$5,733,400,000 of which, $1,683,000,000 are from prior year
unobligated balances. Rescission recommendations for assisted
housing funds include:
$690,100,000 from the development or acquisition cost
of public housing, of which, $92,100,000 is from prior
year unobligated balances;
$1,157,000,000 from the modernization of existing
public housing projects pursuant to section 14 of the
United States Housing Act of 1937, of which,
$243,000,000 is from prior year unobligated balances,
including $100,000,000 to eliminate funding for the
Choice in Management initiative, as proposed by the
Administration. This rescission would reduce program
funding to the President's FY 1995 requested level of
$2,786,000,000;
$2,694,000,000 from rental assistance under the
section 8 existing housing certificate program (42
U.S.C. 1437f) and the housing voucher program under
section 8(o) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)), of which,
$100,000,000 shall be from new programs and
$350,000,000 from pension fund rental assistance as
provided in Public Law 103-327. In addition, the
Committee recommends accepting the Administration's
proposal to rescind $15,000,000 from the Family
Unification program. This would eliminate funding for
the incremental assistance program for FY 1995. At a
time when HUD has significant outstanding long-term
spending growth liabilities, the Committee is concerned
about the Department entering into additional
contracts;
$465,100,000 from the preservation program, of which,
$290,100,000 is from prior year unobligated balances.
The President proposed rescinding $150,000,000 of such
balances;
$90,000,000 from the lead-based paint program. The
Administration proposed rescinding $80,000,000 from
such funds;
$186,000,000 from housing opportunities for persons
with AIDS program;
$70,000,000 from unobligated balances of special
purpose grants from FY 1993 and prior; and
$366,200,000 from unobligated balances of other
programs, including $287,000,000 of major
reconstruction of public housing funds proposed for
recapture and rescission by the Administration in FY
1996, moved into FY 1995, $6,000,000 from Section 8
contract amendments, $34,200,000 from amounts reserved
for lease adjustments, and another $39,000,000 from
recaptures. These last three items, totaling
$79,200,000, were proposed by the Administration for
rescission in FY 1995.
Congregate services
The Committee is recommending the rescission of $37,000,000
from FY 1995 appropriations and prior year unobligated
balances. The amount recommended for rescission is the same as
proposed by the President.
payments for operation of low-income housing projects
The Committee is recommending the rescission of
$404,000,000. The remaining funding level of $2,496,000,000
would match the President's request for FY 1995. The President
proposes termination of this program in FY 1996, consolidating
funding under the Public and Indian Housing Operation
Performance Funds program.
severely distressed public housing
The Committee is recommending the rescission of
$523,000,000 of FY 1995 and prior year unobligated balances.
The President proposes termination of this program in FY 1996.
Drug Elimination Grants for Low-Income Housing
The Committee is recommending the rescission of
$32,000,000. Of this amount, $7,000,000 is unobligated
balances. The remaining funding level of $265,000,000 would
match the appropriation for FY 1994. The President proposes
termination of this program in FY 1996.
youthbuild program
The Committee is recommending the rescission of $38,000,000
in FY 1995 funds. The remaining funding level of $40,000,000
would allow one final round of implementation grants. The
President proposes termination of this program in FY 1996.
housing counseling assistance
The Committee is recommending the rescission of $38,000,000
which was appropriated in FY 1995. This action would return the
program to the FY 1994 funding level of $12,000,000. The
President proposes termination of this program in FY 1996.
flexible subsidy fund
The Committee recommends the rescission of unobligated
balances of $8,000,000 from the Flexible Subsidy Fund. The
President proposes the termination of this program in FY 1996.
Nehemiah Housing Opportunities Fund
The Committee is recommending the rescission of unobligated
balances of $19,000,000 from this inactive program.
Homeless Assistance
Homeless assistance grants
The Committee is recommending delaying the availability of
$297,000,000 until September 30, 1995. The remaining amount
available for all of FY 1995 would match the FY 1994 funding
level of $823,000,000 for these activities.
Community Planning and Development
Community Development Grants
The Committee is recommending the rescission of
$349,200,000. Of this amount, $59,200,000 would be from
unobligated balances from prior years. The President proposes
the termination and consolidation of this program into the
Community Opportunity Performance Funds account in FY 1996.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
salaries and expenses
The Committee is recommending a rescission of $500,000
which was appropriated in FY 1995 as start up funds for this
new entity. This rescission terminates the Board before members
have sworn the oath of office and prior to expenditure of any
funds, and is consistent with a rescission and termination
proposal made by the President in the February 6, 1995
messages.
Community Development Financial Institutions
community development financial institutions fund program account
The Committee recommends the rescission of $124,000,000
from this new program. The Committee urges further review of
this new initiative.
Corporation for National and Community Service
national and community service programs operating expenses
The Committee recommends a rescission of $210,000,000 from
the FY 1995 National and Community Service Programs Operating
Expenses appropriation. This rescission will reduce the FY 1995
appropriation of $575,000,000 to the FY 1994 level of
$365,000,000. This action will allow the Administration to
honor its commitments to existing volunteers, while giving the
Committee an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the
program prior to expansion.
Environmental Protection Agency
research and development
The Committee is recommending a rescission of $14,635,000
which was appropriated in FY 1995 for various programs and
activities. Of this amount, $3,635,000 has been proposed for
rescission by the President in the February 6, 1995 messages
and includes $2,300,000 in health effects research, academic
training, and neurotoxicity research activities which have been
fully funded as priority research, and $1,335,000 in
procurement savings. The remaining $11,000,000 proposed for
rescission is available from unobligated balances.
abatement, control, and compliance
The Committee is recommending a rescission of $4,806,805
which was appropriated in FY 1995 for various programs and
activities. Of this amount, $3,141,805 is derived from
termination of the Clean Lakes program and $1,665,000 is
achieved through procurement savings. The amount recommended
for rescission is the same as proposed by the President in the
February 6, 1995 messages.
buildings and facilities
The Committee is recommending a rescission of $25,000,000
which was appropriated in FY 1995 and prior years for various
projects. Funds for this recommended rescission are made
available from unobligated balances carried forward in this
account.
water infrastructure/State Revolving Fund
The Committee is recommending a rescission of
$1,303,200,000 which was appropriated in FY 1995 and prior
years for various programs and projects. Of this amount,
$1,300,000,000 had been appropriated in fiscal years 1994 and
1995 for distribution upon enactment of a drinking water state
revolving fund. Such a fund is yet to be authorized. The
remaining $3,200,000 is derived from funds incorrectly
appropriated in FY 1995 for specific wastewater infrastructure
improvements and has also been recommended for rescission by
the President in the February 6, 1995 messages.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
science, aeronautics and technology
The Committee is recommending a rescission of $38,000,000
which was appropriated in FY 1995 for various programs. The
rescission includes $25,000,000 which was to provide maximum
flexibility in program management of the Earth Observing
System; $10,000,000 for the Hubble telescope mission; and
$3,000,000 for a regional ecosystem computer-based modeling
project. All of these program augmentations are excess to basic
program needs and rescission of these funds will not impair
approved NASA program execution.
construction of facilities
The Committee is recommending a rescission of $27,000,000
which was appropriated in FY 1993 for construction of a
facility for the Consortium for International Earth Science
Information Network. The amount recommended for rescission is
the same as proposed by the President in the February 6, 1995
messages.
mission support
The Committee is recommending a rescission of $1,000,000
which was appropriated in FY 1995 for operation of
administrative aircraft. The amount recommended for rescission
is the same as proposed by the President in the February 6,
1995 messages.
National Science Foundation
The Committee is recommending a rescission of $131,867,000
which was appropriated in FY 1995 for a new inter-agency
facilities and instrumentation modernization program. The FY
1966 budget did not include continuation of this effort as
required by the FY 1995 appropriation and the amount
recommended for rescission is the same as proposed by the
President in the February 6, 1995 messages.
CORPORATIONS
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
fdic affordable housing program
The Committee is recommending the rescission of
$11,281,034. This action would rescind all remaining
unobligated balances from this new housing program.
TITLE III
GENERAL PROVISION
denial of benefits for individuals not lawfully within the united
states
The committee directs that each federal entity or official
receiving funds under this act shall take reasonable actions to
determine whether any individual who is seeking any benefit or
assistance subject to the limitation established in the
applicable section 301 is lawfully in the United States.
COMMITTEE VOTES
Pursuant to the provisions of clause 2(l)(2)(b) of rule XI
of the House of Representatives, the results of each rollcall
vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with
the names of those voting for and those voting against, are
printed below:
rollcall number: 1
date: march 2, 1995
measure: emergency supplemental & rescission bill, fy 1995
motion by: ms. pelosi
description of motion: restore funding for aids research and provide
off-sets
results
Members Voting Yea--37: Mr. Bevill, Mr. Bonilla, Mr. Bunn,
Mr. Chapman, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Dickey, Mr. Dicks, Mr. Dixon, Mr.
Durbin, Mr. Fazio, Mr. Foglietta, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Hefner, Mr.
Hobson, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Istook, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Kolbe, Mr.
Lewis, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. McDade, Mr. Miller, Mr. Mollohan, Mr.
Murtha, Mr. Obey, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Porter, Mr. Regula, Mr. Sabo,
Mr. Skaggs, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Torres, Mr.
Visclosky, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Yates, Mr. Young.
Members Voting Nay--18: Mr. Callahan Mr. DeLay, Mr.
Frelinghuysen, Mr. Kingston, Mr. Knollenberg, Mr. Lightfoot,
Mr. Livingston, Mr. Myers, Mr. Nethercutt, Mr. Neumann, Mr.
Packard, Mr. Riggs, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Skeen, Mr. Taylor, Mrs.
Vucanovich, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Wicker.
rollcall number: 2
date: march 2, 1995
measure: emergency supplemental & rescission bill, fy 1995
motion by: mr. durbin
description of motion: eliminate funding for disaster assistance,
create a disaster assistance loan guarantee fund and restore
funding to various programs
results
Members Voting Yea--20: Mr. Bevill, Mr. Chapman, Mr.
Coleman, Mr. Dicks, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Foglietta, Mr. Hefner, Mr.
Hoyer, Ms. Kaptur, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Mollohan, Mr. Murtha, Mr.
Obey, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Sabo, Mr. Skaggs, Mr. Stokes, Mr.
Visclosky, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Yates.
Members Voting Nay--35: Mr. Bonilla, Mr. Bunn, Mr.
Callahan, Mr. DeLay, Mr. Dickey, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Fazio, Mr.
Forbes, Mr. Frelinghuysen, Mr. Hobson, Mr. Istook, Mr.
Kingston, Mr. Knollenberg, Mr. Kolbe, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Lightfoot,
Mr. Livingston, Mr. McDade, Mr. Miller, Mr. Myers, Mr.
Nethercutt, Mr. Neumann, Mr. Packard, Mr. Porter, Mr. Regula,
Mr. Riggs, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Skeen, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Torres, Mrs.
Vucanovich, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Young.
rollcall number: 3
date: march 2, 1995
measure: emergency supplement and rescission bill, fy 1995
motion by: mr. stokes
description of motion: decrease funding for disaster assistance and
restore funding to various programs
results
Members Voting Yea--23: Mr. Bevill, Mr. Chapman, Mr.
Coleman, Mr. Dicks, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Fazio, Mr. Foglietta, Mr.
Hefner, Mr. Hoyer, Ms. Kaptur, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Mollohan, Mr.
Murtha, Mr. Obey, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Sabo, Mr. Skaggs, Mr. Stokes,
Mr. Thornton, Mr. Torres, Mr. Visclosky, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Yates.
Members Voting Nay--29: Mr. Bonilla, Mr. Callahan, Mr.
DeLay, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Frelinghuysen, Mr. Hobson, Mr. Istook,
Mr. Kingston, Mr. Knollenberg, Mr. Kolbe, Mr. Lewis, Mr.
Lightfoot, Mr. Livingston, Mr. McDade, Mr. Miller, Mr. Myers,
Mr. Nethercutt, Mr. Neumann, Mr. Packard, Mr. Porter, Mr.
Regula, Mr. Riggs, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Skeen, Mr. Taylor, Mrs.
Vucanovich, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Young.
rollcall number: 4
date: march 2, 1995
measure: emergency supplemental and rescission bill, fy 1995
motion by: mr. murtha
description of motion: transfer savings to a deficit reduction trust
fund
results
Members Voting Yea--23: Mr. Bevill, Mr. Chapman, Mr.
Coleman, Mr. Dicks, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Fazio, Mr. Foglietta, Mr.
Hefner, Mr. Hoyer, Ms. Kaptur, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Mollohan, Mr.
Murtha, Mr. Obey, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Sabo, Mr. Skaggs, Mr. Stokes,
Mr. Thornton, Mr. Torres, Mr. Visclosky, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Yates.
Members Voting Nay--32: Mr. Bonilla, Mr. Bunn, Mr.
Callahan, Mr. DeLay, Mr. Dickey, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Frelinghuysen,
Mr. Hobson, Mr. Istook, Mr. Kingston, Mr. Knollenberg, Mr.
Kolbe, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Lightfoot, Mr. Livingston, Mr. McDade,
Mr. Miller, Mr. Myers, Mr. Nethercutt, Mr. Neumann, Mr.
Packard, Mr. Porter, Mr. Regula, Mr. Riggs, Mr. Rogers, Mr.
Skeen, Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Vucanovich, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Wicker, Mr.
Wolf, Mr. Young.
rollcall number: 5
date: march 2, 1995
measure: emergency supplemental and rescission bill, fy 1995
motion by: mr. mcdade
description of motion: report the bill as amended
results
Members Voting Yea--31: Mr. Bonilla, Mr. Bunn, Mr.
Callahan, Mr. Dickey, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Frelinghuysen, Mr.
Hobson, Mr. Istook, Mr. Kingston, Mr. Knollenberg, Mr. Kolbe,
Mr. Lewis, Mr. Lightfoot, Mr. Livingston, Mr. McDade, Mr.
Miller, Mr. Myers, Mr. Nethercutt, Mr. Neumann, Mr. Packard,
Mr. Regula, Mr. Riggs, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Skeen, Mr. Taylor, Mr.
Visclosky, Mr. Vucanovich, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Wolf, Mr.
Young.
Members Voting Nay--22: Mr. Bevill, Mr. Chapman, Mr.
Coleman, Mr. Dicks, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Fazio, Mr.
Foglietta, Mr. Hefner, Mr. Hoyer, Ms. Kaptur, Mrs. Lowey, Mr.
Mollohan, Mr. Murtha, Mr. Obey, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Sabo, Mr.
Stokes, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Torres, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Yates.
CHANGES IN THE APPLICATION OF EXISTING LAW
Pursuant to clause 3 of rule XXI of the House of
Representatives, the following statements are submitted
describing the effect of provisions in the accompanying bill
which directly or indirectly change the application of existing
law.
Language is included in each paragraph in Title I of the
bill which designates the appropriations to be an emergency
requirement.
Language is included in Title II of the bill which rescinds
budget authority from various appropriation accounts.
Language is included under Title II, Chapter I under Office
of the Secretary which limits the transfer of funds available
to the Department of Agriculture without prior Congressional
notification.
Language is included in Chapter 5 under the Bureau of Land
Management, Management of lands and resources, prohibiting the
implementation of the Roswell Resource Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement and the Carlsbad Resource
Management Plan Amendment/Environmental Impact Statement.
Language is included under Department of Education, College
Housing and Academic Facilities Loans Program, that would
repeal the authority of the Department to subsidize any further
gross loan obligations under title VII of the Higher Education
Act.
Language is included under Department of Health and Human
Services, Payments to States for Foster Care and Adoption
Assistance, which limits fiscal year 1995 awards to each State
for administrative costs under section 474(a)(3) of the Social
Security Act to 110 percent of the amounts awarded in fiscal
year 1994.
Language is included under General Provisions which amends
section 458(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reduce
direct student loan administrative expenditures for fiscal year
1995 by $47 million.
Language is included transferring funds to the appropriate
authorizing Committees for the purpose of carrying out the
functions of the Joint Committee on Printing.
Language is included in Title II, Chapter VIII under
Federal Highway Administration that reduces the Federal-aid
highways limitation on obligations by reducing amounts for
general operating expenses and applied research and technology
programs.
Language is included in Title II, Chapter VIII under
Federal Transit Administration that reduces obligational
authority in fiscal years 1990, 1992, 1993, and 1995 for buses
and bus-related facilities.
Language is included in Title II, Chapter VIII under
Federal Transit Administration that reduces obligational
authority in fiscal years 1991, 1992, and 1993 for new transit
systems by specific amounts.
Under the heading ``Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center, Acquisition, Construction, Improvements, and Related
Expenses'', the Committee has included language directing that
$1,000,000 be used to initiate design and construction of a
Burn Building in Glynco, Georgia.
Language is included under the Department of Housing and
Urban Development, homeless assistance grants, delaying the
availability of $297,000,000 of FY 1995 funds until September
30, 1995.
Language is included under Cooperative State Research
Service; Small Business Administration; State Unemployment
Insurance and Employment; and Education Research, Statistics,
and Improvement that could be construed as legislative in
nature.
Language is included in Title II, Chapter VIII, dealing
with reducing the obligation authority of the Working Capital
Fund and with budgetary resources for civilian and military
compensation and benefits and other administrative expenses
that could be construed as legislative in nature.
Language is included in Title II, Chapter VIII under the
Federal Transit Administration, Discretionary Grants, that
deals with distributions of the reductions that could be
construed as legislative in nature.
Language is included in Title II, Chapter II under Ounce of
Prevention Council which allows funds appropriated for grants
by the Ounce of Prevention Council in Public Law 103-317, to
also be available for administrative expenses of the Council.
It also allows the Council to accept, hold, administer and use
gifts, both real and personal, for the purpose of facilitating
its work.
Language is included under Department of Education, Higher
Education limiting funding of awards of doctoral studies under
Title IX-B.
COMPLIANCE WITH RULE XIII--CLAUSE 3
In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
The paragraph immediately under the heading ``Cooperative
State Research Service'' in Public Law 103-330 is amended as
follows:
Cooperative State Research Service
For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for
cooperative forestry and other research, for facilities, and
for other expenses, including $171,304,000 to carry into effect
the provisions of he Hatch act approved March 2, 1887, as
amended, including administration by the United States
Department of Agriculture, penalty mail costs of agricultural
experiment stations under section 6 of the Hatch act of 1887,
as amended, and payments under section 1361(c) of he Act of
October 3, 1980 (7 U.S.C. 301n.); $20,809,000 for grants for
cooperative forestry research under the Act approved October
10, 1962 (16 U.S.C. 582a-582-a7), as amended, including
administrative expenses, and payments under section 1361(c) of
the Act of October 3, 1980 (7 U.S.C. 301n.); $28,157,000 for
payments to the 1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee
University, for research under section 1445 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222), as amended, including administration by
the United States Department of Agriculture, and penalty mail
costs of the 1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee
University; $52,295,000 for contracts and grants for
agricultural research under the Act of August 4, 1965, as
amended (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)); $103,123,000 for competitive
research grants under section 2(b) of the Act of August 4,
1965, as amended (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)), including administrative
expenses; $5,551,000 for the support of animal health and
disease programs authorized by section 1433 of Public Law 95-
113, including administrative expenses; $1,318,000 for
supplemental and alternative crops and products as authorized
by the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3319d); $500,000 for
grants for research pursuant to the Critical Agricultural
Materials Act of 1984 (7 U.S.C. 178) and section 1472 of the
Food and Agriculture Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3318),
to remain available until expended; $475,000 for rangeland
research grants as authorized by subtitle M of the National
Agriculture Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977, as amended; $8,990,000 for contracts and grants for
agricultural research under the Act of August 4, 1965, as
amended (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)); $3,500,000 for higher education
graduate fellowships grants under section 1417(b)(6) of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(6)), including
administrative expenses, to remain available until expended (7
U.S.C. 2209b); $4,350,000 for higher education challenge grants
under section 1417(b)(1) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7
U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)), including administrative expenses;
$1,000,000 for a higher education minority scholars program
under section 1417(b)(5) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy act of 1977, as amended (7
U.S.C. 3152(b)(5)), including administrative expenses, to
remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $4,000,000
for aquaculture grants as authorized by section 1475 of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3322), and other Acts; $8,112,000 for
sustainable agriculture research and education, as authorized
by section 1621 of Public Law 101-624 (7 U.S.C. 5811),
including administrative expenses; and $19,954,000 for
necessary expenses of Cooperative State Research Service
activities, including coordination and program leadership for
higher education work of the Department, administration of
payments to State agricultural experiment stations, funds for
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of
the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which [$9,917,000]
$9,207,000 shall be for a program of capacity buildings grants
to colleges eligible to receive funds under the Act of August
30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321-326 and 328), including Tuskegee
University, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C.
2209b), of which not to exceed $100,000 shall be for employment
under 5 U.S.C. 3109; in all, $433,438,000.
Section 458(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is
amended, as follows:
SEC. 458. FUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
(a) In General.--Each fiscal year, there shall be available
to the Secretary of Education from funds available pursuant to
section 422(g) and from funds not otherwise appropriated, funds
to be obligated for administrative costs under this part,
including the costs of the transition from the loan programs
under part B to the direct student loan programs under this
part (including the costs of annually assessing the program
under this part and the progress of the transition) and
transition support (including administrative costs) for the
expenses of guaranty agencies in servicing outstanding loans in
their portfolios and in guaranteeing new loans, not to exceed
(from such funds not otherwise appropriated) $260,000,000 in
fiscal year 1994 [$345,000,000] $298,000,000 in fiscal year
1995, $550,000,000 in fiscal year 1996, $595,000,000 in fiscal
year 1997, and $750,000,000 in fiscal year 1998. If in any
fiscal year the Secretary determines that additional funds for
administrative expenses are needed as a result of such
transition or the expansion of the direct student loan programs
under this part, the Secretary is authorized to use funds
available under this section for a subsequent fiscal year for
such expenses, except that the total expenditures by the
Secretary (from such funds not otherwise appropriated) shall
not exceed [$2,500,000,000] $2,453,000,000 in fiscal years 1994
through 1998. The Secretary is also authorized to carry over
funds available under this section to a subsequent fiscal year.
Appropriation language under the head ``Department of
Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Ounce of Prevention
Council'' in Title VIII of Public Law 103-317, is amended as
follows:
For grants and administrative expenses by the Ounce
of Prevention Council, $1,500,000, to remain available
until expended: Provided, That the Council is
authorized to accept, hold, administer, and use gifts,
both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or
facilitating the work of the Council.
APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW
Pursuant to clause 3 of rule XXI of the House of
Representatives, the following table lists the appropriations
in the accompanying bill which are not authorized by law:
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION:
Coast Guard:
Operating Expenses.
TRANSFER OF FUNDS
Pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule X of the House of
Representatives, the following table is submitted describing
the transfer of funds provided in the accompanying bill:
The following table shows the appropriations affected by
the transfers:
APPROPRIATION TRANSFERS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Account to which transfer Account from which
is to be made Amount transfer is to be made Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Justice..... NA Department of Justice..... NA
General General Administration,
Administration, Ounce Ounce of Prevention
of Prevention Council.
Council.
Department of Education... NA Department of Education... NA
Education Research, Education Research,
Statistics, and Statistics, and
Improvement. Improvement..
Legislative Branch........ NA Legislative Branch........ NA
Joint Items, Joint Joint Items, Committee on
Committee on House Oversight of the
Printing. House of Representatives,
and Committee on Rules
and Administration of the
Senate..
Department of the Treasury NA Department of the Treasury NA
Federal Law Federal Law Enforcement
Enforcement Training Training Center,
Center, Acquisition, Acquisition,
Construction, Construction,
Improvements, and Improvements, and
Related Expenses. Related Expenses.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESCISSIONS
Pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule X of the House of
Representatives, the following table is submitted describing
the rescissions recommended in the accompanying bill:
COMPARISON WITH BUDGET RESOLUTION
Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as
amended, requires that the report accompanying a bill providing
new budget authority contain a statement detailing how that
authority compares with the reports submitted under section 602
of the Act for the most recently agreed to concurrent
resolution on the budget for the fiscal year. All funds
provided in this bill are necessary to meet emergency funding
requirements under the procedures set forth in section
251(b)(2)(D) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985. These funds are exempt from the
Committee's section 602(a) allocation.
The bill provides no new spending authority as described in
section 401(c)(2) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as amended.
FIVE-YEAR OUTLAY PROJECTIONS
In compliance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
(Public Law 93-344), as amended, the following table contains
five-year projections associated with the budget authority
provided in the accompanying bill:
[In millions]
Budget Authority........................................ -$11,809
Outlays:
Fiscal year 1995.................................... -1,508
Fiscal year 1996.................................... -5,665
Fiscal year 1997.................................... -1,354
Fiscal year 1998.................................... -213
Fiscal year 1999 and future years................... -2,637
ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
(Public Law 93-344), as amended, the financial assistance to
State and local governments is as follows:
[In millions]
New budget authority.................................... -$6,318
Fiscal year 1995 outlays resulting therefrom............ -820
INFLATIONARY IMPACT STATEMENT
Pursuant to clause 2(l)(4) of rule XI of the House of
Representatives, the Committee estimates that enactment of this
bill would have no overall inflationary impact on prices and
costs in the operation of the national economy.
DISSENTING VIEWS OF THE HONORABLE DAVID R. OBEY, THE HONORABLE ALAN B.
MOLLOHAN, THE HONORABLE PETE VISCLOSKY, THE HONORABLE LOUIS STOKES, THE
HONORABLE ESTEBAN E. TORRES, THE HONORABLE TOM BEVILL, THE HONORABLE
RONALD D. COLEMAN, THE HONORABLE MARTIN OLAV SABO, THE HONORABLE MARCY
KAPTUR, THE HONORABLE NANCY PELOSI, THE HONORABLE NITA M. LOWEY, THE
HONORABLE STENY HOYER, THE HONORABLE VIC FAZIO, THE HONORABLE JIM
CHAPMAN, THE HONORABLE NORM DICKS, THE HONORABLE SIDNEY R. YATES, AND
THE HONORABLE RAY THORNTON
We are deeply distressed by the decisions made in this
appropriation measure. While we continue to believe that the
Appropriations Committee must do its part in bringing the
federal budget into balance, that is not the question addressed
by this legislation. The reductions contained in this bill are
not for the purpose of deficit reduction. These cuts are being
made to offset supplemental appropriations (largely targeted at
providing further disaster assistance to the state of
California) and to provide budgetary offsets for the massive
tax cuts targeted on high income individuals that are expected
to reach the House Floor later this month.
The tax cuts and supplemental spending are being offset by
highly selective cuts within the general category of
``discretionary spending.'' While there are spending cuts in
this package which can be justified and which a large portion
of the Committee Democrats support, the overwhelming majority
of the cuts in this bill are aimed at either children or low
income elderly. They are extracted from the weakest in our
society in order to provide a huge political premium to those
with the most power and those who have already received the
lion's share of our recent economic expansion.
kids
The measure takes critically needed funds from pre-born and
new born children through cuts in the Healthy Start and W.I.C.
programs. It hurts preschool students through cuts in the
leadbase paint abatement programs and the phasing out of
federal support for Public Broadcasting and the range of
television programming public television makes available to
children in that age group. It hits school age kids by well
over a billion dollars in cuts to local school districts.
Particularly hard hit are new programs to increase safety and
reduce drug abuse in our nation's schools and programs to
enhance the training of our teachers, particularly in the areas
of math, science and other basic skills.
Older children are also targeted. More than one hundred
thousand scholarships that would have been available to college
bound high school graduates this fall will be terminated as a
result of the elimination of the State Scholarship Intensive
Grants program. Other cuts are made in programs like TRIO which
provide opportunity and support to disadvantaged college
students. But most of the cuts are directed toward kids who
probably aren't headed toward college. More than 600,000 summer
jobs for youth are eliminated for this summer and the same
number are eliminated for the following summer. This program in
important to maintaining a positive sense of community in many
inner city neighborhoods. It also provides many non-college
bound youth with their first and probably most important
contact with the world of work. In addition, it terminates new
programs for preparing non college bound youth for technical
education in high school and for moving from high school to the
workforce.
senior citizens
An even larger share of the cuts in this bill are being
extracted from the nation's low income elderly. While a
substantial portion of the nation's elderly are economically
secure there are 8 million elderly households (35% of the
total) living on less than $10,000 a year. The share of elderly
actually living in poverty has been cut substantially over the
last three decades as the result of government efforts through
a variety of programs. But a great many of our seniors are only
slightly above the poverty line. The new rescission package
hurts these individuals in a number of important ways.
More than 1 million senior citizens now live in federally
assisted senior citizen housing. Approximately 40% of the $7
billion in housing cuts contained in this legislation would
affect these seniors. This will result in future shortages of
decent housing for low income elderly. It will also degrade the
upkeep, security and quality of housing which seniors currently
occupy.
Two million elderly households are helped each year through
the low income fuel assistance program in meeting the high cost
of their winter heating bills. The fuel assistance program is
eliminated completely in the new rescission package. These
funds often protect the most hard pressed low income elderly
from choosing between heat and medicine. Utility bills absorb
more than twice as much of the budget of the average elderly
household as they absorb from the budgets of other Americans.
A $14 million cut in the older worker program will deny
work opportunities to 3000 Americans over the age of 55 who are
living in poverty. These part-time minimum wage jobs are
directed at providing services to local communities such as
weatherization, park and playground maintenance and work with
low income children.
This rescission package cuts in half federal assistance to
help senior citizens in all income groups from being victimized
by so-called ``Medigap'' insurance scams. Literally billions
are spent by seniors each year on health insurance and while
much of it is needed, it is estimated that a major portion of
the total either duplicates coverage that seniors already have
or is written in such a way as to provide most seniors with
very little added coverage. This cut will be a big boon to some
insurance writers but it will hurt many of the most vulnerable
elderly.
veterans
Finally, this package also cuts $200 million for veterans
medical equipment and facilities. These funds were provided to
deal with the increasing number of veterans reaching the age
where substantially greater levels of medical service are
needed. The rescission would eliminate construction of new
facilities in Connecticut, Florida, Missouri, Puerto Rico and
Virginia. In addition, $50 million in new equipment to improve
care at existing V.A. Medical Centers is eliminated in this
proposal.
a question of values
No one in the Democratic minority disputes that we must cut
the federal deficit or that the Appropriations Committee must
play a major role in finding savings within the discretionary
spending programs under its jurisdiction. What is appalling to
those of us in the minority is not that this process has begun,
but rather that it has not. When Committee Democrats offered
language in the Full Committee Markup that would require
savings achieved in this package be applied to the deficit
rather than being used as offsets for the pending Republican
tax cut, we were blocked by a unanimous ``no'' vote by
Committee Republicans.
This rescission package is part of an overall program in
which the current deficit is being redistributed. In the end
the nation's wealthy will be considerably better off, our
children and low income seniors will be much worse off and the
budget deficit will be as high or perhaps much higher than it
would have been under existing policies. We think these are
distorted values that are not reflective of the thinking of
ordinary Americans and not in keeping with the best traditions
of this government or this country.
Dave Obey.
Alan Mollohan.
Pete Visclosky.
Louis Stokes.
Esteban Torres.
Tom Bevill.
Ron Coleman.
Martin O. Sabo.
Marcy Kaptur.
Nancy Pelosi.
Nita Lowey.
Steny Hoyer.
Vic Fazio.
Jim Chapman.
Norm Dicks.
Sidney R. Yates.
Ray Thornton.
DISSENTING VIEWS OF HON. LOUIS STOKES, HON. SIDNEY R. YATES, HON.
MARTIN OLAV SABO, HON. JULIAN C. DIXON, HON. RONALD D. COLEMAN, HON.
ALAN B. MOLLOHAN, HON. JIM CHAPMAN, HON. MARCY KAPTUR, HON. THOMAS M.
FOGLIETTA, HON. ESTEBAN E. TORRES, HON. NITA M. LOWEY, HON. RAY
THORNTON, AND HON. NANCY PELOSI
We the undersigned, dissent from the proposed rescissions
of funding for the Veterans Administration and the Department
of Housing and Urban Development in the strongest and most
emphatic manner possible. If the rescissions have been
recommended by the new majority on the Committee to offset the
costs of the Northridge, California earthquake and other
natural disasters, it is both unwise and senseless, for this
action will create thousands of individual and family
disasters. If the rescissions are intended to offset the cost
of future tax cuts--including capital gains for middle class
families and affluent investors--this action is unconscionable.
The effects of the proposed rescissions will be
unmistakable. They will fall on the poorest, the most
vulnerable, the most needy of our citizens. And they will fall
especially hard on the elderly, the disabled, and children. The
Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
summed up the effect of the proposed cuts when he stated
``There are people who are going to be put on the streets as a
result of the decisions that were made by the Committee.''
The largest reduction recommended by the Committee is for
public housing, which would be cut nearly $3 billion. Close to
40 percent of the public housing units in the country are
occupied by the elderly--often single and disabled women. More
than one million children also live in public housing units.
HUD estimates that the rescissions will affect 530,000 elderly
households and 630,000 families with children. The effects will
be varied--and they will be severe. They will include reduced
maintenance, lessened security, fewer supportive services,
personnel layoffs, and more. The cuts will also mean that
certain of the worst public housing projects, those targeted
for reconstruction or demolition, will remain as blights in our
cities.
Unfortunately, the Department of Housing and Urban
Development has been the site of too much abuse, fraud and
mismanagement in the past. HUD's Inspector General testified
before the Committee that ``HUD's reputation for corruption
dates back to the 1980's--when, as Independent Counsel Arlin
Adams has said, `high-ranking political appointees * * * put
their own interests ahead of the underprivileged persons whose
interests they were charged to protect'.'' The Independent
Counsel also stated ``The consequences of that scandal
continued to be felt today, both in increased cynicism about
our government in general and HUD in particular, and in the
everyday lives of the poor.'' The action of the majority on the
Committee compounds the injury to the underprivileged and poor
by continuing to punish them for earlier incidents of official
corruption.
During the past six years the current and previous
administrations have taken many positive and corrective steps
to return sound management practices to the Department. Last
December, Secretary Cisneros announced a new blueprint for the
reinvention of the Department. The new plan ultimately would
consolidate approximately 60 housing and community development
programs into three block grants going to states and local
communities. In order for the new plan to succeed, public
housing authorities need modernization funding to improve the
condition of their units so they can compete with the private
sector. One of the Committee's recommendations, however,
rescinds $1,157,000,000 in public housing modernization funds.
The effect of this action is to deny the public housing
authorities the resources they need to give the reinvention
plan a chance. This single action--before hearings have been
held and before the Department has had the opportunity to
convince the Congress of the merits of its proposal--could doom
one of the centerpieces of the new initiative.
One of the most pernicious rescissions recommended by the
Committee is the reduction of $404,000,000 from public housing
operating subsidies. Based on the actions of the last Congress
on the fiscal year 1995 HUD Appropriations Act, public housing
authorities included in their budgets amounts for operating
subsidies they had every reason to expect would be provided to
them. If those assumptions are rendered moot half-way through
the year by the recommended rescissions, the impacts will be
devastating. Due to the way in which operating subsidies are
provided, some local housing authorities will receive a
disproportionate cut of as much as fifty percent in the third
and fourth quarters of the year, leading to layoffs and drastic
cutbacks in maintenance and other services. States and cities
will be very hard pressed to find funds to make up for the lost
federal support. One of the few possible sources of funding
that might have been available to ease the loss of federal
operating support half-way through the year, the community
development grant program, is itself targeted for a cut back of
nearly $350,000,000. The community development grant program,
initiated by a Republican Administration, has been a favorite
of federal, state and local officials for many years. It
devolves decision making down to the state and local level,
apparently one of the hallmarks of the new majority party.
Rescission of these funds does not appear consistent with much
of the new Republican rhetoric.
Another cut recommended by the Committee with which we
strongly disagree is the $90,000,000 rescission from the lead-
based paint program. No one who has seen first hand the effect
on young children who have ingested lead-based paint could ever
recommend cutting back this initiative. If this funding is
eliminated, there will undoubtedly be increased future
governmental costs for Medicaid and other programs to deal with
the health and related problems that will befall children whose
brains and development have been damaged by lead-based paint.
The Committee's assault on the Department of Housing and
Urban Development is not limited just to public housing,
however, A rescission of $2.7 billion has been recommended in
the rental assistance programs. If enacted, this reduction
would mean a total of 69,000 rental vouchers and certificates
would not be made available. More than 38,000 families with
children would not receive housing assistance. More than 14,000
elderly Americans would likewise receive no housing assistance.
Perhaps most tragically, the 12,000 certificates that had been
reserved for homeless women with children would be rescinded.
Women with children constitute the fastest growing segment of
the homeless population. Due to the action of the Committee
many thousands of these needy families will remain homeless and
potential victims to the dangers of life on the streets.
Additionally, the 3,000 certificates set aside for homeless
persons with AIDS would be zeroed. Housing experts point out
the shortsightedness of this proposal. For example, in Atlanta,
it costs less than $40 a day to provide supportive housing for
homeless people with AIDS. The other likely alternative, a stay
in the public hospital, costs up to $1,000 daily. Secretary
Cisneros has stated that the estimated life expectancy for a
homeless individual with AIDS is six months. The action of this
Committee will condemn thousands of individuals suffering from
AIDS to a demeaning existence and an early death on the
streets.
Not only will the cuts proposed by the Committee mean that
people currently homeless will not receive assistance, they
will also cause some people currently living in assisted
housing to be thrown out on the street. A specific example is
the 1,700 people living in the Lower Valley Project in El Paso,
Texas. El Paso is slated to receive $35,000,000 to renovate the
housing project. The plans include converting 100 of the
apartments into single-unit homes and duplexes, which would be
sold to residents on a rent-to-own basis. Rescission of
$523,000,000 for severely distressed housing projects, as
proposed by the Committee, threatens the entire project. El
Paso already has one of the highest occupancy rates in the
Nation for public housing. Nearly 5,000 people are on the
waiting list to get into Lower Valley housing. The shortage of
affordable housing in the area has resulted in the expansion of
colonias, depressed communities along the border often lacking
safe drinking water and proper sewage treatment.
The list of programs in which the Committee is recommending
what we consider to be short-sighted rescissions is lengthy and
includes $465,100,000 from low-income housing preservation
programs, $350,000,000 from pension fund rental assistance,
$38,000,000 from the Youthbuild program, $210,000,000 from the
National and Community Service program (Americorps),
$15,000,000 from the FDIC Affordable Housing program, and
$206,110,000 from Veterans Administration medical care and
construction programs. The cuts in the Veterans Administration
seem especially callous. Because it is a discretionary program,
the Veterans medical care program has only increased by a
fraction of the growth experienced in the private sector and
health entitlement programs in recent years. The VA estimates
that it currently has a backlog of more than $750,000,000 for
medical equipment. The recommended rescission of $50,000,000
senselessly adds to that backlog. The recommended cut of
$156,110,000 in construction programs--targeted to ambulatory
care facilities--is equally defenseless. Incredulously, two of
the six affected facilities are located in Florida, the state
with the fastest growing veterans population.
We believe many of the rescissions recommended by the
Committee, especially those identified above that are targeted
to our veterans, our elderly, our children, and the most needy
and poor among us, are ill-considered and mean spirited. We
intend to work throughout the process to attempt to restore
sanity and reason--in addition to funding--to the consideration
of these programs.
Louis Stokes.
Marcy Kaptur.
Ron Coleman.
Thomas M. Foglietta.
Esteban E. Torres.
Martin O. Sabo.
Nancy Pelosi.
Sidney R. Yates.
Julian C. Dixon.
Alan Mollohan.
Ray Thornton.
Jim Chapman.
Nita M. Lowey.
ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF THE HONORABLE NANCY PELOSI
The Committee Report includes language specific to the San
Joaquin River Basin Resource Management Initiative, authorized
in Section 3601(c)(1) of the 1992 Central Valley Project
Improvement Act (P.L. 102-575). The language ``directs that the
Bureau of Reclamation not obligate any additional funds in
fiscal year 1995 for the San Joaquin River Basin Management
Study.''
This program was included in the CVPIA to address fish,
wildlife, and habitat concerns on the San Joaquin River. The
study was authorized so that we could figure out what needed to
be done to restore fish to the San Joaquin, where irrigation
water deliveries have wiped out several stocks of commercially
valuable anadromous fish.
Although the bill does not rescind funds for the study, the
report language could achieve the same result as a rescission.
I believe this is an inappropriate use of the rescission
process, and I object to inclusion of the report language.
The report language incorrectly implies that the Committee
on Resources has expressed an intent to ``reassess the scope''
of the study. The Committee has not taken any such action
specific to the San Joaquin River Basin Management Initiative.
In fact, the Committee has not held a hearing or otherwise
officially considered the merits of the study since it was
authorized just over two years ago.
The report language is nothing more than an attempt to kill
a study that is politically unpopular with a small group of CVP
beneficiaries who continue to profit from their subsidized
water supplies at the expense of California's commercial and
sport fish resources. The study had been authorized by Congress
and is being conducted properly by the Bureau of Reclamation.
It should be allowed to proceed without interference from
special interests.
Nancy Pelosi.
ADDITIONAL DISSENTING VIEWS OF THE HONORABLE MARTIN OLAV SABO
Women, children and the elderly first * * *. This committee
report contains a calculated $17.3 billion assault on federal
domestic programs that serve our nation's most vulnerable
people. To make matters worse, these cuts in housing,
nutrition, education and training, heating assistance,
environmental and transportation programs are being made
largely to finance tax cuts for the wealthiest in our nation.
Federal housing programs were hardest hit by the
Committee's rescissions, which bore 40 percent of the cuts or
$7.3 billion of this FY95 rescission package. Low-income
families, including over one million senior citizens who
currently live in federally assisted housing, will be hurt by
these dramatic cuts in rental assistance and in the upkeep and
maintenance of publicly-owned buildings. If these housing
rescissions are enacted, safe, decent housing for recipient
families will be jeopardized, and the infrastructure of this
multi-billion dollar public investment will be badly damaged.
The Committee also recommended terminating the Low Income
Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) program despite evidence that
it is urgently needed. LIHEAP recipients have an average annual
income of only $8,257 and spend approximately 18.4% of that on
energy expenses. These families already face significant
hardships, and some are currently forced to decide whether to
spend scarce resources on groceries or heating bills. Their
situations will only worsen if their energy assistance is cut
off. A Boston City Hospital study documented this problem when
it found that emergency room visits by patients suffering from
malnutrition peaked following periods of cold weather. Clearly,
the elimination of LIHEAP will severely affect thousands of
low-income families.
I am also troubled that $17.5 million in FY95 rescissions
in the Federal Transit Administration was taken solely from
public bus and bus facilities accounts. Federal support of
public busing is essential in many parts of the country where
buses are the only mass transit option available, particularly
when it is also the most affordable for low-income people. An
efficient and effective bus transportation system exists in my
Congressional District and has been a key piece in the
development of the Twin Cities. I am proud to be a strong
supporter of this form of mass transit both in my district and
across the country. I believe this cut is irresponsible and
short-sighted.
Finally, the Committee has recommended terminating the
summer youth program and reducing $1.7 billion in funding for
education programs, including $12.5 million from School-to-Work
activities. Such ill-advised policy would produce modest
reductions in expenditures in the short-term, but yield
substantial long-term losses in the productivity and earning
power of today's youth. I question the wisdom of restricting
federal investment in jobs and education at the precise moment
when Congress is considering comprehensive welfare reform.
I am very disturbed by the rescissions contained in this
report, and I cannot in good conscience support this bill.
Martin O. Sabo.
DISSENTING VIEWS OF THE HONORABLE RONALD D. COLEMAN
I oppose the supplemental and rescission package before us
today because it unfairly burdens our children, the low-income,
and the elderly. This bill cuts $13 billion above what is
needed to pay for disaster relief in an illogical manner to
achieve an unknown goal.
As the ranking minority member on the Transportation
Subcommittee, I must oppose the proposed transportation
rescissions in this bill. The transportation component of the
bill includes a total of $728,486,000 in reductions in budget
authority and obligation limitations.
One half of the recommended transportation rescissions
would be achieved by eliminating $351 million in unobligated
emergency appropriations provided last year for emergency
disaster relief for the Los Angeles earthquake and other
disasters. Last year, in the emergency fiscal year 1994
supplemental appropriations bill, we appropriated $950 million
for the January 1994 earthquake in Southern California and for
other disasters.
The Committee report indicates that the $351 million is
unobligated and not needed for the Northridge earthquake. But,
according to the Department of Transportation, $25 million of
this amount has been committed to California for Northridge.
Another $19 million is needed to meet anticipated claims from
California, Oregon and Washington flood damage. In other words,
we are rescinding disaster funds in this rescission bill
intended for California and other states in order to provide
disaster relief to these same states. The remaining balances
would be the only uncommitted funds that the Department of
Transportation would have on hand to address any additional
emergencies that may occur this year.
I am also opposed to cutting the Coast Guard by $52.5
million in this bill. Considering the $28.2 million in
emergency funding to reimburse the Coast Guard's extraordinary
expenses incurred in its Haiti and Cuba operations in the
emergency supplemental bill, the net impact on the Coast Guard
is a cut of $24.3 million. Make no mistake about it. We are
hurting the Coast Guard's ability to maintain its operational
readiness and to carry out its safety mission. On February 28,
1995 the Coast Guard Commandant testified about a $15 million
shortage in spare parts funding. Yet we are cutting $1 million
in funding from the Coast Guard's spare parts. We heard about
how the proposed $2.5 million rescission in the systems to
integrate and automate logistics (SAIL) project will delay by
six to eight months the Coast Guard's ability to improve the
efficiency of its spare parts management, as recommended by the
General Accounting Office.
We are also affecting safety here. I do not agree with the
proposed rescission if $1.7 million for the Coast Guard's
Marine Safety Information System which would enable the Coast
Guard to better track marine safety violations and target its
law enforcement efforts.
The bill before us also includes $114 million in reductions
in earmarked transit new starts and bus projects. These
reductions were decided upon by taking one half of fiscal year
1993 and prior year unobligated balances for these projects.
Because of an accounting error by the Department of
Transportation, we now know that some of the $114 million in
proposed reductions has, in fact, been obligated. The transit
rescissions also would eliminate the balance of the Secretary
of Transportation's fiscal year 1995 discretionary fund ($17.7
million) for bus and bus facility projects which the Committee
intentionally did not earmark last year.
The net effect of these actions is that we are eliminating
the Secretary's discretion to support meritorious transit
projects, while the proposed bill does not eliminate what some
members have called pork projects. The transportation portion
of this rescission bill rescinds absolutely no pork, even
though more than $2 billion in unobligated balances remain
outstanding for specially earmarked highway and transit
demonstration projects in member's districts. The bill before
us simply defers the obligation of contract authority for
transit projects until fiscal year 1996 or later years, but
does not actually rescind this budget authority. Moreover, I am
concerned with the fact that good projects as well as bad
projects are affected by the proposed reductions. No attempt
has been made to week out unmeritorious projects--the money
that could wisely be used for children's programs or nutrition
programs for the poor were cut on the same day.
In addition to the cuts taken by transportation programs, I
would like to specifically address several measures contained
in the package which directly affect my state. Having served on
the Interior Subcommittee, I am well aware of the deteriorating
condition of our park system and am greatly concerned by the
$45 million being carved out of the National Park Service
budget.
Most Americans are aware of Yellowstone Park and the Grand
Canyon. Fewer Americans have heard of the parks which
commemorate and preserve an unique part of our history,
culture, or landscape. As a result these parks have
historically lagged behind their more famous siblings in
funding.
I believe the rescissions proposed in this package not only
continues this trend, but reverses the progress we had made in
recent years. I hope this is not an indication of the treatment
projects symbolizing our multi-cultural heritage will receive
in the FY96 budget.
I would like to point out three meritorious projects which
the Interior Subcommittee, I believe wrongly, singled out. The
first is Chamizal National Memorial in my district. Last year,
this Committee provided $1.2 Million for landscaping. The
Chamizal National Memorial commemorates the settling of a 100
year old dispute concerning our international border with
Mexico.
The Rio Grande River which serves as the boundary between
the United States and Mexico frequently changed its course. It
wasn't until Mexican President Adolfo Lopez Mateos invited
President John Kennedy to amicably settle the dispute in 1962
that the issue was resolved. Until this time, the issue was a
matter of great tension among American and Mexican land owners.
Some of the disputed land was set aside to form the Chamizal
National Memorial where educational programs, performing arts,
and visual arts serve to preserve and maintain the unique
heritage of the southwest border.
The money being rescinded here today was intended to fund
the implementation of the second step of the Memorial's 1989
Landscape Management Plan. The Committee funded the first phase
in fiscal year 1994. I would just like to note that the
Memorial staff was prepared to move forward with the
renovations. A contractor had begun the planning and design.
Schematic design was completed in February. We are not
rescinding money that was not needed or could not be spent, but
rather money that was desperately needed and that was planned
to be spent this fiscal year.
Two other projects of note are contained in the National
Park Service rescissions. That is land acquisition funds for
the Palo Alto National Battlefield, Texas and state assistance
funds for the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
Palo Alto is the site of the first battle of the Mexican-
American War. It is the only site of the National Park Service
that interprets the Mexican-American War. This bill rescinds
half of all the funding provided to the National Park Service
to purchase the 3,400 acres of battlefield. By rescinding this
money we are forgoing an important opportunity to work with the
Palo Alto Conservation Fund to purchase land.
It was through the creation of the missions that much of
the southwest was explored and settled. The San Antonio
Missions National Historical Park is one of our finest examples
of how that was accomplished, the hardships that had to be
endured, and the architectural beauty that was a result. It is
also an example of federal, state and local cooperation. All of
the mission land was acquired by the City of San Antonio and
donated to the National Park Service. The State of Texas
dedicated funds to provide an intemodal transportation system
to link the four missions and downtown. Citizens raised over $1
million for project funding. Comparatively fewer federal
dollars have been involved. Now, the federal government is
rescinding its contribution toward completion of the exhibits
and audio/video production at one of the visitor centers.
In respect to the unwise and senseless rescissions in the
area of public housing, I agree with the comments of my
colleague Mr. Stokes as contained in a separate dissenting
view. I would like to clarify for the Committee that these cuts
are not just on paper, but will affect real people. Two cuts
contained in this package will have a disparaging impact on
residents of dilapidated, low-income housing. The reduction in
payments for the operation of low-income housing projects and
the elimination of funding for the Severely Distressed Public
Housing Fund will result in a reduction of affordable housing
for El Paso, where public housing is already at maximum
capacity, and a lost of over 200 employees in a region with
unemployment over 9%.
The reduction in the payments for operation of low-income
housing projects will fall disproportionately on housing
authorities which start their fiscal year later. The housing
authorities which begin their fiscal year July 1 or October 1
could see their funding cut by as much as 50%. This reduction
will mean a reduction in maintenance, security, and supportive
services.
I oppose the elimination of funding for the Severely
Distressed Public Housing fund. This program is targeted to
help those who live in some of our nation's most dilapidated
and crime infested developments. This money is urgently needed.
In many instances this money has already been obligated and
contracts have been signed. Not funding this program in 1996 is
one thing, reneging on our word is another. This will result in
long and costly litigation over cancellation of this
commitment.
Finally, I am also opposed to the provision in the Non-
Emergency Supplemental Bill which prohibits the use of federal
funds to implement the President's prohibition on ``permanent
replacement'' workers in the event of a strike. Only the
Executive Branch can decide how to treat its employees, not the
Congress. I find the idea of replacing striking workers with
``permanent replacement'' highly objectional, having supported
Right-to-Work legislation in this Congress every time it has
come up for a vote.
In summary, I do not support the emergency supplemental and
rescission. I believe that it cuts the wrong programs--programs
that hurt children, low-income Americans, and the elderly--for
the wrong reasons.
Ronald D. Coleman.